Saturday February 13, 2010
Picture Quiz

KUB in a patient presenting with acute abdominal pain.

Tips: Thumbprinting in the region of the splenic flexure and dilatation of the proximal small-bowel.

Answer: Ischemic colitis.

Ischemic colitis occurs due to any clinical condition which cause insufficient blood supply to a segment or the entire colon. This disease results in ischemic necrosis of varying severities that can range from superficial mucosal involvement to full-thickness transmural necrosis. Patients usually present with colicky abdominal pain associated with vomiting, diarrhea, or rectal bleeding