A Study of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) in Assessment of Small Bowel Diseases

Background: MDCT (Multi-Detector Computed Tomography) combined with enteroclysis or enterography has become a valuable tool in abdominal imaging. It provides detailed visualization of the small bowel wall and lumen through effective distension and allows assessment of the mesenteric vasculature. Additionally, it offers crucial insights into extraintestinal pathologies. The current study aimed to assess the role of MDCT in diagnosing and evaluating small bowel disorders. Methods: A prospective study involving 40 patients was conducted at a tertiary care hospital over two years. These patients were diagnosed with small bowel pathologies on MDCT and subsequently underwent surgery with histopathological examination. Intraoperative findings and histopathological results served as the standard reference for diagnosis. Inclusion Criteria were patients with small bowel pathologies identified on MDCT who underwent surgery with histopathological correlation. Results: This study evaluated MDCT in assessing small bowel diseases in 40 patients, comparing MDCT diagnoses with histopathology. Important findings include MDCT’s accurate identification of adenocarcinoma, GIST, and small bowel TB, with strong concordance between imaging and pathology. MDCT also effectively identified various causes of small bowel obstruction and perforation. While MDCT provided valuable diagnostic clues, it could not always provide definitive tissue characterization, emphasizing the need for histopathological confirmation. This study highlights MDCT’s clinical utility in detecting and characterizing a range of small bowel pathologies, guiding further investigations and treatment. Conclusion: This study demonstrated MDCT’s valuable role in assessing diverse small bowel pathologies. MDCT effectively identified neoplastic lesions like adenocarcinoma and GIST, inflammatory conditions such as small bowel TB and Crohn’s disease, and various causes of small bowel obstruction. While MDCT findings often correlate with histopathological diagnoses, they cannot always provide definitive tissue characterization. Integrating MDCT findings with clinical and pathological data is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.