Ileocolic vascular curvature: a new CT finding of cecal volvulus

Evaluation of 18 CT signs in diagnosing cecal volvulus: a multi-reader retrospective study

PURPOSE

To assess the diagnostic performance and reliability of 18 CT signs to diagnose cecal volvulus, a surgical emergency, versus a group of non-volvulus mimickers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four radiologists retrospectively and independently assessed 18 CT signs in 191 patients with cecal volvulus (n = 63) or a non-volvulus control group ((n = 128), including cecal bascule (n = 19), mobile cecum (n = 95), and colonic pseudo-obstruction (n = 14)) at a single institution from 2013 to 2021. Fleiss' kappa coefficient was used to assess inter-reader agreement. For diagnostic performance metrics, we assessed sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. For predictive performance, all 18 signs were included in bivariate and stepwise lasso multivariate logistic regression models to diagnose cecal volvulus. Performance was assessed by ROC curves.

RESULTS

191 patients (mean age: 63 years +/- 15.5 [SD]; 135 women) were included in the study. Nine of the 18 CT signs of cecal volvulus demonstrated good or better (> 0.6) inter-reader agreement. Individual CT signs with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values all above 70% for diagnosing cecal volvulus were transition point, bird beak, and X-marks-the-spot. A lasso regression model determined four CT features: transition point, bird beak, coffee bean, and whirl had excellent prediction (AUC = .979) for cecal volvulus if all present.

CONCLUSION

CT signs for cecal volvulus that have high sensitivity and specificity include: transition point, bird beak, and X-marks-the-spot and were reliable in distinguishing non-volvulus mimickers. If the following four features were present: transition point, bird beak, coffee bean, and whirl, there was excellent prediction (AUC = .979) for cecal volvulus.

The Unfolding Situation of Caecal Volvulus: A Retrospective Analysis of 36 Cases From a Single Center

Background

Caecal volvulus (CV) is a rare cause of bowel obstruction. However, there has been a steady rise in the number of cases over the decades. The demographic profile of patients developing CV has changed to a much older population. We conducted a retrospective review to determine the incidence, demographic profile, management, and outcomes of CV patients in our institution during the last nine years.

Methodology

A retrospective audit of all patients diagnosed with CV at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust between 01 January 2011 and 31 March 2020 was performed. Patients admitted with any other type of volvuli such as sigmoid volvulus, small bowel volvulus, and gastric volvulus were excluded.

A systematic search of the electronic medical records for all patients admitted under the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code K562: volvulus was performed for the study duration. It yielded a total of 1,019 patients. After excluding all patients who did not have either a CV or caecal bascule, we included 36 patients in the final analysis.

Results

Most of our patients were females (78%) with a median age was 76 years. The majority (86%) had at least one medical comorbidity, and 36% had a previous abdominal operation. Abdominal pain was the main complaint in 94% of patients. All patients had undergone a computed tomography (CT) scan to confirm their diagnosis. Most of our patients (84%) underwent surgery. Open right hemicolectomy was the most commonly performed operation (87%). Out of the six patients who did not undergo surgery, three responded to bowel rest and nasogastric tube decompression; one patient underwent successful colonoscopic decompression. In contrast, two patients, unfortunately, passed away. The median length of hospital stay was nine days, with a 30-day mortality of 3%.

Conclusions

CV remains a rare cause of bowel obstruction. Most of our patients were old, frail, and had medical comorbidities. More than one-third of patients had undergone previous abdominal surgery. Early CT scan followed by right hemicolectomy was associated with low mortality.

A comprehensive radiologic review of abdominal and pelvic torsions

The clinical manifestations of abdominal and pelvic organ torsion can often be non-specific and can affect a wide range of ages and demographic groups. Radiologists have a key role in not only establishing the diagnosis of organ torsion, but also in the assessment of potential complications. As multiple imaging modalities may be utilized in the evaluation of abdominal and pelvic pain, recognizing the various appearances of organ torsion is important to ensure early diagnosis and thereby reducing patient morbidity and mortality, particularly since abdominal and pelvic organ torsion may not be clinically suspected at the time of initial patient presentation.