Spiral CT findings of systemic lupus erythematosis ischemic bowel disease presenting with acute abdominal pain

Objective To investigate the spiral CT findings of ischemic enteropathy in SLE patients presenting with acute abdominal pain.Methods The clinical data and spiral CT imaging data of 23 confirmed SLE patients with acute abdominal pain were retrospectively reviewed, of which 16 had contrast-enhanced spiral CT scanning of the abdomen. Observation was focused on the changes of bowel wall (wall thickness, enhancement pattern, lumen size) and the mesentery (mesenteric edema, engorgement of mesenteric vessels and abnormal vascular arrangement pattern). Results Ninteen patients had intestinal wall thickening (19/23), with the ”target sign” in 12 patients (12/16). Bowel lumen dilatation was present in 16 patients (16/23). Mesenteric fat edema with stranding was noticed in 21 patients (21/23); 18 patients had engorgement and prominence of mesenteric vessels (18/23), with comb like arrangement in 4 (4/16). Conclusion Abnormal changes of intestinal wall and mesenteric vasculature are the most common spiral CT findings in SLE ischemic bowel disease.