ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Clinical presentation and physical signs may be unreliable in the diagnosis of stercoral colitis (SC). This study evaluates the value of computed tomography (CT) in distinguishing fatal from non-fatal SC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients diagnosed as SC were obtained from inter-specialist conferences. Additional 13 patients with suspected SC were identified via the Radiology Information System (RIS). These patients were divided into two groups; fatal and non-fatal SCs. Their CT images are reviewed by two board-certified radiologists blinded to the clinical data and radiographic reports. RESULTS: SC occurred in older patients and displayed no gender predisposition. There was significant correlation between fatal SC and CT findings of dense mucosa (p = 0.017), perfusion defects (p = 0.026), ascites (p = 0.023), or abnormal gas (p = 0.033). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of dense mucosa were 71%, 86%, and 81%, respectively. These figures were 75%, 79%, and 77% for perfusion defects; 75%, 80%, and 78% for ascites; and 50%, 93%, and 78% for abnormal gas, respectively. Each CT sign of mucosal sloughing and pericolonic abscess displayed high specificity of 100% and 93% for diagnosing fatal SC, respectively. However, this did not reach statistical significance in diagnosing fatal SC. CONCLUSION: CT appears to be valuable in discriminating fatal from non-fatal SC.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Chi-Square Distribution , Colitis/mortality , Contrast Media , Diagnosis, Differential , Fecal Impaction/mortality , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Sensitivity and Specificity , Statistics, Nonparametric , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methodsABSTRACT
The stercoral colitis is an inflammatory process involving the colonic wall related to fecal impaction. This rare condition usually has a poor prognosis. We experienced a death case where an 84 years old woman died of stercoral colitis complications after total knee arthroplasty surgery. The fatal complications were peritonitis with systemic inflammatory response syndrome, not accompanying bowel perforations. We would like to show the autopsy case of stercoral colitis and suggest the importance of early suspicion and treatment.