Intravenous Contrast Agent in Abdominal CT: Is It Really Needed to Identify the Cause of Bowel Obstruction? Proof of Concept

Figure 4

Axial CT scan of a 60-year-old man previously operated of cholecystectomy and splenectomy. Unenhanced phase (a) shows dilatation of the jejunal loops, but a neoplastic origin could not be ruled out. Post contrast image in the portal venous phase (b) shows absence of pathologic enhancement of the bowel wall, and the final diagnosis of small bowel obstruction due to adhesions was made.

(a)

(b)