Please interpret my CT scan taken for abdominal pain.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have viewed the CT (computed tomography) scan abdomen and pelvis images (attachment removed to protect patient identity).

There is a persisting wall thickening of the stomach fundus and proximal body area. It is important to know that the stomach is not showing complete distension in the post contrast and delayed images.

The ileocecal junction area (connection between the small and large bowel) is showing mild wall thickening in the given images.

The findings are indicating possible concerns in the gut. The exact nature of the wall thickening is not clear in the given images and are more commonly visualized in inflammatory conditions and is benign. However a cancerous wall thickening needs to be ruled out in all cases and needs detailed evaluation.

It will help to get back to your doctors and discuss the findings and request for an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and a colonoscopy and will show a direct visualization of the areas.

The rest of the organs such as liver, gall bladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, urinary bladder, prostate, bones, and vessels are not showing any significant abnormalities.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I appreciate your sharing of the radiologist report (attachment removed to protect patient identity). However, I would like to place my points in perspective in view of the findings mentioned.

1. The small plaque is not causing any significant problems to the flow of blood. It is too small to cause any luminal stenosis. Usually, plaques causing significant block are reported, and the small ones may be ignored.

2. The hernia is a few mm in diameter and is not causing any concerns in the umbilical area. This will not cause pain or discomfort.

3. I do not agree with the cyst in the liver completely. I had seen the area previously but felt it more to be a visualization of a normal area like fat or an unopacified vein next to the gall bladder. It is very small and not showing typical features of a cyst.

4.The old healed fracture in the anterior superior L4 vertebra looks like a limbus vertebra to me. This is an extension of normal and not due to any fracture and is not a concern. However, if you had any injury to the spine previously, then a fracture might be considered.

The blood and urine reports are showing a mild increase in cholesterol and non HDL cholesterol and decreased HDL. Since you have heart problems in your family it will help to consult and take treatment to control cholesterol levels.

In reply to your question about the stomach's findings, I still feel the wall of the stomach might be thickened in the images you sent me but at the same time the stomach does not appear to be completely full.

In clear terms, the stomach is like an elastic bag, the wall appears thick when contracted but when the stomach gets filled up, the wall gets thinned out and stretched like elastic. However, in your images, I see that the wall in not thinning out in some areas. Now this can be due to any condition causing a wall thickening of the stomach or can be due to your stomach not being completely full. As I see the similar wall thickness in the post contrast and delayed images so I think doing an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is needed.

The point about ileocaecal wall thickening is a finding that may or may not be significant. As this area is in the right mid abdomen (you have a pulled up cecum), it can be an area of mild inflammation and cause for pain, so I felt it important to be mentioned in my findings.

It is important to know that radiologists can differ in opinions and I request you to discuss my points and my review of the findings given by the other radiologist with your doctors.