Imaging manifestations of 92 cases of congenital intestinal malrotation / 中华围产医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the imaging manifestations of congenital intestinal malrotation. Methods The clinical data of 92 infants with congenital intestinal malrotation admitted from January 1993 to December 2012 were studied retrospectively. All the 92 cases enrolled in this study were diagnosed based on imaging examinations and confirmed surgically. The imaging features of four examinations including plain abdominal radiography, upper gastrointestinal radiography, lower gastrointestinal angiography and ultrasound examination were analyzed. Results The percentage of the infants who presented with the initial clinical symptoms of vomit, blood stool and abdominal dilatation was 87.0%(80/92), 3.3%(3/92) and 1.1%(1/92), respectively, and eight cases [8.7%(8/92)] received prenatal ultrasound, which showed intestinal malrotation. Clinical examination showed no abdominal abnormalities in 68 (73.9%) cases. Seventy-seven cases underwent plain abdominal radiography, revealing intestinal obstruction in 31 cases. Thirty-six cases underwent upper gastrointestinal radiography, which revealed malrotation in 14 cases, and duodenal complete/incomplete obstruction or stenosis in 19 cases. Twenty-two cases underwent lower gastrointestinal angiography, and all of them were diagnosed as malrotation. Seventy-nine cases were examined with abdominal ultrasonography, and 58 cases were diagnosed as malrotation. Conclusions Rational selection of imaging examinations can improve the preoperative diagnosis. When congenital intestinal malrotation is suspected, abdominal ultrasound should be done as the first optional examination. At the same time, plain abdominal radiography should be selected accordingly. When intestinal malrotation with or without midgut volvulus is suggested, surgery should be performed as early as possible. When the diagnosis is not clear, upper or lower gastrointestinal radiography should be done.