Small Bowel CT Appearances

Small Bowel Intussusception CT Findings

• Complex soft-tissue mass
• “Target sign” appearance
• Mesenteric fat often contains enhanced vessels
• Can be due to benign or malignant tumors

Other Information About Small Bowel Intussusception

Etiology:

• Unknown

Epidemiology:

• In pediatric cases, patients are typically 6-36 months and male
• Intussusception in adults is rare and typically presents around the 6th decade of life

Presentation:

• In children:
  • Abdominal pain (may be intermittent)
  • Palpable mass
  • Vomiting
  • Hemtochezia
  In adults:
  • Abdominal pain
  • Abdominal distension
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • GI Bleed

Prognosis:

• Prognosis is excellent if the intussusception is treated early

Related Pearls: Intussusception

Related Lectures:
CT Evaluation of Small Bowel Obstruction - Part 4
CT of Lymphoma: Involvement of the GI Tract - Part 2
CT Evaluation of Suspected SBO: State of the Art 2024 - Part 3