CT Evaluation of Mechanical Intestinal Obstruction

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of CT for the diagnosis and treatment planning of mechanical intestinal obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 38 patients who were clinically suspected of mechanical intestinal obstruction and had undergone abdominal CT. The CT scans were evaluated for the absence or presence, severity, cause and site of intestinal obstruction. CT findings were compared with the results of laparotomy, barium study and clinical course. The absence or presence and severity of intestinal obstruction were classified into no obstruction, partial obstruction, complete obstruction. Diagnosis was estabilished by means of laparotomy in 20 cases, barium study in 9 cases and clinical course in 9 cases. RESULTS: Of 38 cases, 7(18.4%) showed no obstruction, 22(57.9%) showed partial obstruction, and 9(23.7%) showed complete obstruction. The presence or absence and severity on CT scans were corretly predicted in 36 of 38 cases (sensitivity 95%, specificity 97%, accuracy 96%) (in case of no obstruction:sensitivity 100%, specificity 94%, accuracy 95%;in case of partial obstruction:sensitivity 91%, specificity 100%, accuracy 95%;in case of complete obstruction:sensitivity 100%, specificity 100%, accuracy 100%). All 9 cases with complete obstruction underwent prompt and immediate laparotomy. 13 cases, excluding those with mass around the site of transition and adhesion with strangulation, with partial obstruction improved with conservative treatment without laparotomy. The causes of obstruction were adhesion in 13, hernia in 6, primary cancer in 5, metastatic cancer in 3, abscess in 2, intestinal tbc in 1, and Crohn's disease in 1. The cause of obstruction on CT scans were correctly predicted in 27 of 31 cases (87.1%). The sites of obstruction on CT scans were correctly predicted in 22 of 26 cases (84.6%). CONCLUSION: CT is valuable in the evaluation of absence or presence, severity, cause and site of intestinal obstruction, and is considered to be helpful in treatment planning for the patients with intestinal obstruction.