BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to describe the computed tomographic (CT) findings of the alimentary canal and mesentery in amyloid infiltration of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and to correlate the CT findings with histologic extent and distribution and with amyloid subtype. METHODS: Abdominal CT scans performed between 1988 and 1997 on @entity1 with pathologically proven @entity2783 of the alimentary canal and mesentery. Histology was graded for extent of @entity33 involvement and for degree of interstitial and vascular distribution. CT findings were correlated with histologic extent, histologic distribution, and amyloid histochemical type. RESULTS: Twenty-three @entity1 were included. Four (17%) had bowel wall thickening, which was associated with a higher submucosal extent and interstitial distribution than in @entity1 with normal bowel by CT. Four (17%) @entity1 had bowel wall dilatation without thickening, which was not associated with statistically significantly different histology than in @entity1 with normal bowel by CT. There was no statistically significant correlation between CT findings and histochemical subtype. Mesenteric soft tissue infiltration was seen in two @entity1 , and mesenteric @entity3018 was seen in one @entity1 . CONCLUSIONS: Normal bowel is a common abdominal CT finding in @entity2783 of the alimentary canal. When findings are present, GI wall thickening and/or bowel wall dilatation without wall thickening may be seen. Bowel wall thickening on CT correlates with submucosal extent and interstitial distribution of disease. Soft tissue infiltration and @entity3018 are also occasionally seen.

XXXX of the alimentary canal: radiologic-pathologic correlation of CT findings.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity33 :: ('MESH:D052016', 'Disease') :: ['mucosal, submucosal, and muscularis propria'] @entity3018 :: ('MESH:D009377', 'Disease') :: ['adenopathy'] @entity2783 :: ('MESH:D000686', 'Disease') :: ['amyloidosis']
@entity2783 :: (MESH:D000686,Disease) :: ['Amyloidosis']
