Multidetector Computed Tomography Features of Positive Endoscopic or Toxin Assay Clostridium Difficile Colitis
Sitthipong Srisajjakul MD*, Patcharin Prapaisilp MSc*, Nisakorn Kijsawat MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Pancolonic colonic wall thickening is a common CT feature in patients diagnosed with Clostridium difficile
colitis (CDC).
Objective : To illustrate CT appearances of CDC in hospitalized patients with toxin assay indicant or endoscopic proven
CDC.
Material and Method: Two reviewers independently evaluated the colonic abnormalities in the retrospectively identified
patients with toxin assay indicant or endoscopic proven CDC that underwent abdominal CT between January 2006 and
June 2009. The colonic abnormalities included wall thickening, wall enhancement, the “accordion sign, pericolonic stranding,
lymphadenopathy, ascites, gut obstruction, and associated findings such as small bowel involvement. They then compared
the CT diagnostic findings with lab result and endoscopic findings
Results : Fifteen patients (in 897 patients) with toxin assay indicant or endoscopic proven CDC and underwent abdominal
CT were included in the study. Colonic wall thickening (0.5 -1.6 cm) and mild degree of pericolonic fat stranding are
commonly found in this study. Eleven (73.3%) patients had pancolonic wall thickening and the remaining four (26.6%) had
segmental involvement. Accordion sign was demonstrated in 11 (73.3%) patients. No small bowel thickening was detected.
Contrast enhanced CT showed superior result to non-contrast enhanced CT for colonic wall thickness evaluation. Accordion
sign were not different between contrast enhanced CT in patients that did not received oral/rectal contrast medium
administration and non-contrast enhanced CT in patients that received adequate rectal contrast medium administration.
Conclusion : Patients taking a broad spectrum of antibiotic were found to have colonic wall thickening, a mild degree of
pericolonic fat stranding, and accordion sign on CT scan. The doctor should be concerned with CDC.
Keywords : Clostridium difficile colitis, Pseudomembranous colitis, Antibiotic associated colitis
