Paracolic Gutter Ct Scan

There is not usually an associated effusion of ascitic fluid.

Paracolic gutter ct scan.

The right and left paracolic gutters are peritoneal recesses on the posterior abdominal wall lying alongside the ascending and descending colon. 10 year old girl with 3 day history of epigastric pain and bilious vomiting caused by small bowel volvulus secondary to mesenteric lymphangioma. Ct scan obtained through lower abdomen shows multilocular cystic mass asterisk. Paracolic gutters help keep infectious material away from the body s internal organs.

Fluid on ct is relatively hypodense dark on ct. The right lateral paracolic gutter runs along the right side of the cavity of the abdomen. Both paracolic gutters run laterally along the back side of the abdominal wall and are situated between the abdominal wall and the outer margin of the colon. View larger version 123k fig.

Dense fluid may suggest hemoperitoneum especially in the context of trauma. On computed tomography without intravenous contrast material splenosis implants are as dense as the hepatic parenchyma and well circumscribed while their enhancement pattern mimics that of healthy spleen parenchyma and they are heterogeneous in the arterial phase becoming homogeneous during the portal phase. Although internal hernias are uncommon they may be included in the differential diagnosis in cases of intestinal obstruction especially in the absence of a history of abdominal surgery or trauma. Fluid may sit within the peritoneal space or paracolic gutters or may be interposed between bowel loops or around solid organs e g.

The paracolic spaces gutters are located lateral to the peritoneal reflections of the left and right sides of the colon fig 8a. Ct scan is the usual initial imaging modality used because it is the imaging of choice for evaluating patients with generalized abdominal disorders and often those with peritoneal carcinomatosis. A less obvious medial paracolic gutter may be formed especially on the right side if the colon possesses a short mesentery for part of its length. The right lateral gutter is much larger and allows for greater drainage than the left gutter.

It can be compared to fluid in the gallbladder or stomach. The main paracolic gutter lies lateral to the colon on each side. The right lateral paracolic gutter. The left medial paracolic gutter.

Its origin lies on the right side origin of the right paracolic gutter lies at the ascending portion of the colon at the right hepatic flexure or the point where the ascending colon turns at a right angle to form the transverse colon.