CT of large small-bowel diverticulum

Acute Chyloperitoneum with Small Bowel Volvulus: Case Series and Systematic Review of the Literature

Introduction: Chyloperitoneum arises from lymph leakage into the abdominal cavity, leading to an accumulation of milky fluid rich in triglycerides. Diagnosis can be challenging, and mortality rates vary depending on the underlying cause, with intestinal volvulus being just one potential acute cause. Despite its rarity, our case series highlights chyloperitoneum associated with non-ischemic small bowel volvulus. The aims of our study include assessing the incidence of this association and evaluating diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Material and Methods: We present two cases of acute abdominal peritonitis with suspected small bowel volvulus identified via contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Emergency laparotomy revealed milky-free fluid and bowel volvulus. Additionally, we conducted a systematic review up to 31 October 2023, identifying 15 previously reported cases of small bowel volvulus and chyloperitoneum in adults (via the PRISMA scheme). Conclusions: Clarifying the etiopathogenetic mechanism of chyloperitoneum requires specific diagnostic tools. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be useful in non-emergency situations, while contrast-enhanced CT is employed in emergencies. Although small bowel volvulus infrequently causes chyloperitoneum, prompt treatment is necessary. The volvulus determines lymphatic flow obstruction at the base of the mesentery, with exudation and chyle accumulation in the abdominal cavity. Derotation of the volvulus alone may resolve chyloperitoneum without intestinal ischemia.

Small bowel diverticulosis: imaging appearances, complications, and pitfalls

Diverticula of the small bowel can be categorised as true, with Meckel's being the only example, or false. False small bowel diverticula (SBD) are acquired through herniation of the internal layers of the bowel wall through the muscularis propria. Peri-ampullary duodenal diverticula are a well-recognised example; however, the importance of more distal SBD in the jejunum and ileum is underappreciated, and they are under-reported on cross-sectional imaging. SBD are a known cause of anaemia, malabsorption, and diarrhoea, and there are myriad complications of SBD and Meckel's diverticula, which range in severity from inflammation and perforation to haemorrhage, tumour formation, and obstruction. Before the advent of computed tomography (CT), SBD were readily diagnosed on fluoroscopic oral contrast studies; however, radiologists are less comfortable with their cross-sectional imaging appearances. This imaging review combines our experience of multiple proven cases, with illustrative diagrams and radiological images of SBD to provide distinct imaging characteristics, allowing for confident diagnosis of SBD and their numerous complications. We discuss the importance of SBD as a cause of benign, non-surgical pneumoperitoneum. We additionally provide important pitfalls to be aware of such as SBD masquerading as other abnormalities.

Multiple giant diverticula of the jejunum causing intestinal obstruction: report of a case and review of the literature

Multiple diverticulosis of jejunum represents an uncommon pathology of the small bowel. The disease is usually asymptomatic and must be taken into consideration in cases of unexplained malabsorption, anemia, chronic abdominal pain or discomfort. Related complications such as diverticulitis, perforation, bleeding or intestinal obstruction appear in 10-30% of the patients increasing morbidity and mortality rates. We herein report a case of a 55 year-old man presented at the emergency department with acute abdominal pain, vomiting and fever. Preoperative radiological examination followed by laparotomy revealed multiple giant jejunal diverticula causing intestinal obstruction. We also review the literature for this uncommon disease.

Multislice computed tomography angiography findings of chronic small bowel volvulus with jejunal diverticulosis

A volvulus, which is torsion of the bowel and its mesentery, is a medical emergency. Small bowel volvulus rarely occurs in adults, although it has been reported in the presence of small bowel diverticulum. Multislice computed tomography (CT) angiography, by demonstrating the mesenteric vessels, can be of help in the diagnosis of small bowel volvulus, especially when CT or gastrointestinal studies fail to show the diverticulum. We present the multislice CT angiography findings of a 64-year-old woman with chronic intermittent volvulus resulting from jejunal diverticulosis, surgically confirmed. To our knowledge, no similar case has been reported previously in the literature.

Acquired Jejunoileal Diverticulosis and Its Complications: A Review of the Literature

Jejunoileal diverticulosis is a rare entity. Jejunoileal diverticulosis is not a disease that surgeons see often in clinical practice; however, it should remain on the differential diagnosis for any patient with an acute abdomen or gastrointestinal bleeding of unknown origin. It can present with a wide range of clinical scenarios and when patients experience chronic symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, bacterial overgrowth, or malabsorption, medical therapy is successful in most patients. However, when patients present with acute symptoms of bleeding, inflammation, perforation, or obstruction, surgical resection and primary anastomosis is often the treatment of choice. If patients are asymptomatic, they are better left alone, even when discovered incidentally in the operating room. In closing, the possibility of a patient having jejunal diverticular disease should be suspected whenever the symptoms of obscure abdominal pain, anemia, dilated jejunal loops on abdominal radiographs, a history of colonic diverticuli, and a history of acute appendicitis.

Jejunal diverticulosis: findings on CT in 28 patients

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study was to better characterize the CT findings of jejunal diverticulosis by retrospectively reviewing abdominal CT scans of 28 patients with this condition on barium examinations.

CONCLUSION

Jejunal diverticula have characteristic findings on CT, appearing as discrete round or ovoid, contrast-, fluid-, or air-containing structures outside the expected lumen of the small bowel, with a smooth, barely discernible wall and no recognizable small-bowel folds. Not infrequently, these structures are seen to communicate directly with an adjoining small-bowel loop, a feature best recognized by scrolling the images. Our experience suggests that jejunal diverticulosis can often be recognized on the basis of the characteristic CT features of this condition.

Large Diverticulum and Volvulus of the Small Bowel in Adults

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of large diverticulum (>3 cm) and volvulus of the small bowel (SB) in adults. A computer search of the medical records between January 1995 and December 2002 revealed 94 surgically proved cases of small bowel volvulus in adults. We reviewed the surgical records and recorded any specific condition found during laparotomy. The control group included 107 consecutive patients receiving a laparotomy with a diagnosis other than SB volvulus. In the 94 surgically proved cases of SB volvulus, the surgical records described presence of adhesion in 47 cases, adhesions around large SB diverticulum (>3 cm) in 5 cases, coexistence of large SB diverticulum and adhesions around the narrowed mesenteric root in 4 cases, large SB diverticulum without a specific description of the presence of adhesion or narrowed mesenteric root in 24 cases, narrowed mesenteric root without large SB diverticulum in 3 cases, internal hernia in 4 cases, tumors in 3 cases, and absence of any specific lesion in 4 cases. Only one case was found to have a large SB diverticulum in the control group. The incidence of large SB diverticulum in SB volvulus of adults was 35% (33/94), significantly higher than that of the control group (1%, 1/107) (p < 0.01). Large diverticulum of the small bowel might play a contributing role in the occurrence of SB volvulus in adults.