What is Thumbprinting on an xray?

Thumbprinting is a radiographic sign of large bowel wall thickening, usually caused by oedema, related to an infective or inflammatory process (colitis). The normal haustra become thickened at regular intervals appearing like thumbprints projecting into the aerated lumen.

What is thumb printing sign?

‘Thumb-printing’ is a radiologic sign indicating bowel-wall thickening due to edema that is often a finding in patients with mesenteric ischemia.

What does a thickened colon mean?

Although asymmetric and heterogeneous focal thickening of the bowel wall usually indicates a malignancy, benign inflammatory conditions such as intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease may present with similar imaging features, sometimes mimicking neoplasms [3, 14, 15].

What is Ischaemic colitis?

Ischemic colitis occurs when blood flow to part of the large intestine (colon) is temporarily reduced, usually due to constriction of the blood vessels supplying the colon or lower flow of blood through the vessels due to low pressures.

What are the symptoms of toxic megacolon?

Seek immediate medical help or have someone call 911 if you have severe stomach pain and these symptoms:

Frequent diarrhea.
Bloody diarrhea.
Swelling in your belly.
Fever.
Rapid heart rate.
Signs of shock, such as a weak pulse, cool or clammy skin, dilated eyes, confusion, and rapid or shallow breathing.

Is mesenteric ischemia the same as ischemic colitis?

Ischemic colitis is a form of mesenteric ischemia limited to the colon. It is caused by a low flow state, usually affects the elderly and is likely due to the shunting of blood away from the mucosa.

Which disease is visible on plain film with thumb printing?

Thumbprinting is a radiographic sign of large bowel wall thickening, usually caused by edema, related to an infective or inflammatory process (colitis).

What are symptoms of bowel thickening?

Typical symptoms include several days of constant abdominal pain, most commonly in the left lower quadrant. Patients may also present with nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever, and/or change in bowel habits. Laboratory evaluation often reveals mild leukocytosis, but may be normal in up to 45% of cases.

Is thickening of the colon walls cancerous?

Bowel wall thickening is not an uncommon finding among patient undergoing abdomen CT scan. It may be caused by neoplastic, inflammatory, infectious or ischaemic conditions but also be a normal variant. Although specific radiologic patterns may direct to a precise diagnosis, occasionally misidentification may occur.

What happens if your colon dies?

If the blood flow slows down or stops, part of your colon dies. This is because it doesn’t get enough oxygen. The low oxygen levels also cause bacteria to grow. These bacteria may make toxins that can destroy nearby tissue.

What kind of thumbprinting is in the colon?

There is diffuse colonic mucosal thickening from the mid transverse colon down to the sigmoid with surrounding peri-mesenteric fat stranding and typical ‘thumbprinting’. There is sparing of the proximal transverse colon and rectum.

How is computed tomography used to diagnose colitis?

Computed tomography (CT) is widely used to assess patients with nonspecific abdominal pain or who are suspected of having colitis. The authors recommend multidetector CT with oral, rectal, and intravenous contrast material and thin sections, which can accurately demonstrate inflammatory changes in the colonic wall and help assess…

Can a thickened bowel be a differential diagnosis?

Although the sonographic appearance of bowel wall thickening of different diseases sometimes overlaps, careful examination of the thickened bowel segment in context with the clinical information often leads to a limited differential diagnosis or to the correct diagnosis.