Focal bowel wall changes detected with colour Doppler ultrasound: Diagnostic value in acute non-diverticular diseases of the colon

Abstract

We performed a study to determine if colour Doppler findings may help to identify the cause of wall thickening in acute non-diverticular diseases of the colon. The study group included 66 patients admitted to the emergency department with a final diagnosis of infectious colitis (n=23), inflammatory colitis (n=10), ischaemic colitis (n=23) and malignant tumours (n=10). The following ultrasound features were assessed: maximal wall thickness, wall stratification, arterial flow in the colonic wall and arteriolar resistive index. Higher values of wall thickness were observed in malignant tumour (18.2±6.2mm, p< 0.001). Moderately thickened wall (6.6±1.3mm, p≤0.06), preserved stratification (90% versus 46% in the remainder of the study population) and lower resistive index (0.51±0.10, p≤0.05) were significantly related to inflammatory colitis. Absence of arterial flow was more frequently observed in ischaemia (43% versus 12% in the remainder of the study population). In conclusion, despite some overlap, both ultrasound and colour Doppler features are helpful in the differential diagnosis of colonic thickening related to non-diverticular colonic lesions. © 2004 The British Institute of Radiology.