Pictorial Essay
Perforation of Hollow Viscus and MDCT
Patnaik S1*, Howdekar M1, Ramachandra Varma S2 and Jyostnarani Y1
1Department of Radiology, NIMS, Hyderabad, India
2Department of GI Surgery, NIMS, Hyderabad, India
*Corresponding author: Patnaik S, Department of Radiology, 404 Sai Kausalya apt, Gagan mahal Main Road, Hyderabad-500029; Tel: 9490793534; Email-sujata_patnaik222@yahoo.co.in
Copyright: © 2021 Patnaik S, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Information: Submission: 02/12/2020; Accepted: 17/03/2021; Published: 22/03/2021
Abstract
Perforation of hollow viscus or GIT is common in clinical practice. Plain radiograph, ultrasound and fluoroscopy have limited value in its evaluation.
MDCT is the gold standard for localisation of the site of perforation. Pattern of air collection depends on the site of perforation. In oesophageal perforation
air outlines mediastinum, lesser curvature, or liver. Peptic ulcer perforation commonly occurs in gastric antrum. Collection of free air occurs at midline, along
falciform ligament and ligament teres. In small bowel perforations, escaped air is too small to be appreciated even on MDCT making diagnosis difficult. Air
may be noted in mesenteric folds, anterior surface of liver in mid abdomen. Ascending, transverse and, descending colonic perforations can present with
air in right anterior pararenal space, lesser sac and left anterior pararenal space, respectively. Location of free air/ fluid, bowel wall thickening, discontinuity
and adjacent stranding can help in predicting the site of perforation on MDCT.
