CT interpretation of gastrointestinal tract diseases

Most inflammatory, neoplastic and vascular disorders manifest bowel wall th ickening on computed tomography (CT). Therefore, it is very important to un derstand the patterns of bowel wall involvement (degree, length, symmetry a nd contrast enhancement patterns) in each category to make a correct diagno sis. Observing extraluminal changes also help to classify the primary cause s of pathological conditions involving the gastrointestinal tract. Adequate CT examinations with optimal opacification of the gastrointestinal tract a re essential not only to avoid false positive findings but also to detect s ubtle or minimal lesions. If findings for establishing a diagnosis are equi vocal, the use of combined findings increases the diagnostic accuracy of CT .