Stercoral colitis: diagnostic value of CT findings

Abstract

PURPOSE:We aimed to evaluate the CT findings of stercoral colitis (SC).METHODS:Forty-one patients diagnosed with SC between February 2006 and April 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.RESULTS:Rectosigmoid colon was the most frequently involved segment (100%, n=41). CT findings can be summarized as follows: dilatation >6 cm and wall thickening >3 mm of the affected colon segment (100%, n=41), pericolonic fat stranding (100%, n=41), mucosal discontinuity (14.6 %, n=6), presence of free air (14.6%, n=6), free fluid (9.7%, n=4), and pericolonic abscess (2.4%, n=1). The sign most related with mortality was the length of the affected colon segment >40 cm.CONCLUSION: CT has an important role in SC, since life-threatening complications can be easily revealed by this imaging modality. Increased length of involved colon segment (>40 cm) is more likely to be associated with mortality.