We have located links that may give you full text access.
Antibiotic-induced diarrhea: specificity of abdominal CT for the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile disease.
Radiology 1994 April
PURPOSE: To evaluate the specificity of abdominal computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed CT scans of 64 patients with C difficile disease and 30 control subjects with diarrhea and negative findings for C difficile disease at stool tests.
RESULTS: Colon wall thickening (range, 4-22 mm; mean, 11.7 mm; median, 11 mm) was seen in 39 patients (61%) with C difficile disease. Other findings included focal colon wall thickening (n = 28) and pancolonic thickening (n = 11). Two patients had only right-sided and transverse colon involvement. CT-specific diagnostic features of C difficile disease, such as nodular haustral thickening or the accordion pattern, were present in 17% of patients. No colonic abnormality was detected in 25 patients (39%). Seven of the 30 (23%) control subjects had colon wall thickening. Six of those seven subjects were subsequently determined to have ischemic colitis. The sensitivity of CT in the detection of colon abnormalities in patients with C difficile disease was 85%, and the specificity was 48%.
CONCLUSION: Specific CT features of C difficile disease are uncommon. A considerable number of patients (39%) with C difficile disease have normal abdominal CT scans.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed CT scans of 64 patients with C difficile disease and 30 control subjects with diarrhea and negative findings for C difficile disease at stool tests.
RESULTS: Colon wall thickening (range, 4-22 mm; mean, 11.7 mm; median, 11 mm) was seen in 39 patients (61%) with C difficile disease. Other findings included focal colon wall thickening (n = 28) and pancolonic thickening (n = 11). Two patients had only right-sided and transverse colon involvement. CT-specific diagnostic features of C difficile disease, such as nodular haustral thickening or the accordion pattern, were present in 17% of patients. No colonic abnormality was detected in 25 patients (39%). Seven of the 30 (23%) control subjects had colon wall thickening. Six of those seven subjects were subsequently determined to have ischemic colitis. The sensitivity of CT in the detection of colon abnormalities in patients with C difficile disease was 85%, and the specificity was 48%.
CONCLUSION: Specific CT features of C difficile disease are uncommon. A considerable number of patients (39%) with C difficile disease have normal abdominal CT scans.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Consensus Statement on Vitamin D Status Assessment and Supplementation: Whys, Whens, and Hows.Endocrine Reviews 2024 April 28
The Tricuspid Valve: A Review of Pathology, Imaging, and Current Treatment Options: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.Circulation 2024 April 26
British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma in adults.Gut 2024 April 17
Interstitial Lung Disease: A Review.JAMA 2024 April 23
Ventilator Waveforms May Give Clues to Expiratory Muscle Activity.American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2024 April 25
Systemic lupus erythematosus.Lancet 2024 April 18
Acute Kidney Injury and Electrolyte Imbalances Caused by Dapagliflozin Short-Term Use.Pharmaceuticals 2024 March 27
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app