Frequency and patterns of gastrointestinal wall thickening in patients with liver cirrhosis by contrast enhanced CT

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the frequency and patterns of gastrointestinal wall thickening at contrast material-enhanced computed tomograhy CT in patients with liver cirrhosis. Three radiologists retrospectively assessed the contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans of 150 patients with cirrhosis and 100 patients without cirrhosis for gastrointestinal wall thickening from the stomach through the descending colon. The frequencies of wall thickening were determined in the cirrhosis and in the control groups. The segmental distribution, symmetry, and enhancement pattern were evaluated in all patients with cirrhosis and compared with the control group. Gastrointestinal wall thickening was seen in 98 patients [65.3%] with cirrhosis and in nine [9%] control subjects [P <0.005]. The jejunum and ascending colon were the most common sites of gastrointestinal wall thickening; each was involved in 64 [42.6%] patients. The scans of 60 [40%] patients with gastrointestinal wall thickening showed multisegmental distribution. Gastrointestinal wall thickening was concentric and homogenous in all patients with liver cirrhosis. Gastrointestinal wall thickening is common on contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans in patients with cirrhosis. Multiple segments were involved. Frequently, the jejunum and ascending colon are the most common sites of involvement