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Image of the Month—Quiz Case
Dinesh N. Ratnapala, MB, ChB;
David Lisle, FRACR;
Elizabeth Munn, FRCPA;
Andreas L. Lambrianides, FRACS
Arch Surg. 2009;144(11):1087.
INTRODUCTION
A 74-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with dehydration and a 6-week history of nausea, anorexia, watery diarrhea with associated crampy abdominal pain, and weight loss. Medical history included hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with regular medication consisting of clopidogrel bisulfate and atenolol.
On examination, the patient was in sinus rhythm, was moderately dehydrated, had right-sided abdominal tenderness, and had no organomegaly or palpable masses. Digital rectal examination results were negative for blood. Laboratory tests showed moderate leukocytosis (white blood cell count, 15 600/µL [to convert to x109 per liter, multiply by 0.001]; with an elevated neutrophil count of 13 600/µL), an elevated C-reactive protein level (157 mg/L [to convert to nanomoles per liter, multiply by 9.524]), and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 32 mm/h. Arterial blood gas showed no lactic acidosis. Stool culture results were negative for pathogenic growth as well as for Clostridium difficile toxin. The patient was admitted for resuscitation and investigation.
A computed tomographic scan (Figure 1) showed extensive concentric bowel wall thickening of the terminal ileum and cecum. There was also stranding in the mesenteric fat.
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Figure 1. Computed tomographic scan of the abdomen with oral contrast material showing concentric bowel wall thickening of the terminal ileum and cecum. There was also stranding in the mesenteric fat.
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What Is the Diagnosis?
A. Crohn disease
B. Nonocclusive ischemic colitis
C. Typhlitis
D. Lymphoma
Answer
Author Affiliations: Departments of Surgery (Drs Ratnapala and Lambrianides) and Medical Imaging (Dr Lisle), Redcliffe Hospital, and Queensland Medical Laboratories, Kippa-Ring (Dr Munn), Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia.
SECTION EDITOR: CARL E. BREDENBERG, MD
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Arch Surg. 2009;144(11):1088.
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