Sequelae of Eating Disorders at Imaging

Abstract

Although eating disorders are common, they tend to be underdiagnosed and undertreated because social stigma tends to make patients less likely to seek medical attention and less compliant with medical treatment. Diagnosis is crucial because these disorders can affect any organ system and are associated with the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. Because of this, imaging findings, when recognized, can be vital to the diagnosis and management of eating disorders and their related complications. The authors familiarize the radiologist with the pathophysiology and sequelae of eating disorders and provide an overview of the related imaging findings. Some imaging findings associated with eating disorders are nonspecific, and others are subtle. The presence of these findings should alert the radiologist to correlate them with the patient's medical history and laboratory results and the clinical team's findings at the physical examination. The combination of these findings may suggest a diagnosis that might otherwise be missed. Topics addressed include (a) the pathophysiology of eating disorders, (b) the clinical presentation of patients with eating disorders and their medical complications and sequelae, (c) the imaging features associated with common and uncommon sequelae of eating disorders, (d) an overview of management and treatment of eating disorders, and (e) conditions that can mimic eating disorders (eg, substance abuse, medically induced eating disorders, and malnourishment in patients with cancer). Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2022.