Gastrointestinal Imaging

Perforation, small bowel

This is usually due to diverticulitis, foreign body or to necrosis secondary to ischaemia. The clinical presentation is usually that of acute abdominal pain with peritonitis. Radiology may reveal pneumoperitoneum and/or inflammatory changes at the site of perforation. Spillage of per orally administered iodine contrast medium may also be seen. Treatment is surgical. See trauma, small bowel (IV:1), Fig. 1.

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