What does inflammatory stranding mean?
This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists. Fat stranding is a sign that is seen on CT. It describes the change in attenuation of fat around an inflamed structure and is a very helpful signpost for intra-abdominal pathology.
What is inflammatory fat stranding?
In inflammatory bowel disease, fat stranding can be seen when the inflammatory process extends from the bowel into the fat or involves the fat exclusively. Hazy (ground-glass) fat stranding in the mesentery in Crohn disease results in a “misty” mesentery, with increased attenuation of the mesenteric fat.
What causes stranding?
Acute conditions that cause fat stranding include peritonitis; inflammation, infection, or ischemia of the bowel; perforation of colon cancer; inflammation associated with pancreatitis or cholecystitis; trauma; and surgery.
What does fat stranding indicate?
Fat stranding refers to an abnormal increased attenuation in fat, (in the mesentery, omentum, retroperitoneum, or subcutaneous fat). The underlying pathophysiologic process is increased edema and engorgement of lymphatics. Abdominal fat stranding can produce various appearances.
Is Perinephric fat stranding serious?
While a degree of symmetric bilateral perinephric stranding is common, particularly in the elderly, asymmetric or unilateral perinephric stranding is an important sign of renal inflammation or of acute obstruction. As such, it is seen in conditions such as acute pyelonephritis and with ureteric calculi.
Is thickening of the colon wall serious?
Focal, irregular and asymmetrical thickening of the bowel wall suggests a malignancy. Perienteric fat stranding disproportionally more severe than the degree of wall thickening suggests an inflammatory condition.
Can a CT scan show bowel inflammation?
CT scans of the gastrointestinal tract can reveal a narrowing of the small or large intestine, called a stricture, or an obstruction. The test may also indicate inflammation in the small intestine, which suggests that Crohn’s disease may be causing your symptoms.
Is there a difference between inflammation and fat stranding?
Abdominal fat stranding can produce various appearances. Whereas mild inflammation may cause a subtle hazy increased attenuation of the fat (ground-glass like), increasing severity of the inflammation can produce a reticular pattern, with more well-defined linear areas of increased attenuation.
Which is the best definition of perinephric stranding?
Dr Ayla Al Kabbani and Dr Andrew Dixon ◉ et al. Perinephric stranding refers to the appearance of edema within the fat of the perirenal space on CT or MRI. While a degree of symmetric bilateral perinephric stranding is common, particularly in the elderly, asymmetric or unilateral perinephric stranding is an important sign…
What causes the reticular pattern of fat stranding?
Whereas mild inflammation may cause a subtle hazy increased attenuation of the fat (ground-glass like), increasing severity of the inflammation can produce a reticular pattern, with more well-defined linear areas of increased attenuation. A reticulonodular appearance can also be observed frequently in association with neoplastic disease.
Which is a non specific sign of fat stranding?
Fat stranding is increased attenuation which can be ill-defined, reticular, linear, or in some malignancies, reticulonodular 1. Fat stranding is a non-specific sign in itself and can be seen in infectious, inflammatory, malignant, or traumatic conditions.