Arpit Nagar;
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Baphiralyne Wankhar;
UVA Health
Devendra Kumar;
Al Wakra Hospital
Pankaj Nepal;
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Sree Harsha Tirumani;
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Vijayanadh Ojili;
UT Health San Antonio
Background
Malabsorption is not an uncommon disorder and can result from a variety of causes. The diagnosis in most cases is based upon clinical suspicion, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. The purpose of this exhibit is to provide a detailed review of disorders of malabsorption in which imaging findings are useful in diagnosis.
Educational Goals / Teaching Points
1. Describe the imaging appearances in various conditions resulting in malabsorption. 2. Discuss the role of imaging studies in patients presenting with malabsorption. 3. Discuss the diagnostic and management strategy in patients with malabsorption.
Key Anatomic/Physiologic Issues and Imaging Findings/Techniques
Malabsorption can result from a variety of conditions resulting from small bowel epithelial cell damage (celiac disease), hypersecretion (Zollinger Ellison syndrome), small bowel stasis (jejunal diverticulosis, scleroderma), submucosal and mesenteric diseases with impaired drainage (lymphangiectasia, angioedema), infiltrative (amyloidosis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis), inflammatory and immune-related (Crohn’s disease, graft versus host disease), and infections (Whipple’s, parasitic infections). Fluoroscopic small bowel studies play an important role in diagnosis, and CT also has a vital role in evaluation of conditions such as Whipple’s disease and has unique importance in the study of malignant complications, mostly of celiac disease.
Conclusion
Imaging plays a key role in the evaluation of patients with malabsorption. Knowledge of salient imaging features can help the radiologist in making an appropriate diagnosis.
