Idiopathic cecal ulcer: CT findings.

Abstract

Idiopathic cecal ulcer is an uncommon condition of solitary ulceration in the cecum or ascending colon, first described by Cruveilhier in 1832 [1]. The cause remains unclear. Definitive diagnosis is usually obtained by histologic evaluation of the surgical specimen. Preoperative clinical diagnosis is uncommon, requiring the exclusion of all known causes of cecal or ascending colon ulceration and mass, such as inflammatory bowel disease, neoplasm, appendicitis, tuberculosis, or amebiasis [2-4]. Although difficult to obtain, an accurate preoperative diagnosis would be beneficial in those patients without morbid features such as hemorrhage or perforation, because conservative management is possible [5]. The barium enema findings of this disease often mimic annular carcinoma [6, 7]. To our knowledge the CT findings have not been discussed before. Because CT scans are frequently obtained on patients with either acute or chronic gastrointestinal complaints, we wish to report the CT findings in two surgically proved examples of this disease.