Lower gastrointestinal bleeding echocardiography and ultrasound
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
There are no specific ultrasound findings associated with lower gastrointestinal bleeding. However, ultrasound can be useful in diagnosing various etiology or conditions responsible for lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound can be helpful in the diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Transabdominal ultrasound is a non-invasive and repeatable imaging study that can be performed easily without bowel preparation. Findings on an ultrasound suggestive of lower gastrointestinal bleeding include:[1][2][1][3][4][5][6]
| Ultrasound findings of various diseases causing LGIB | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Disease | Site | Gut findings | Perigut findings |
| Ulcerative colitis | Entire colon or left colon including rectum | Preserved stratification | Normal perigut fat |
| Crohn’s disease | Caecum including the terminal ileum
Skip lesion |
Preserved or lost stratification
Focal destruction of stratification |
Thickening of peri-gut fat, enlarged lymph node
Abscesses, fistula |
| Ischemic colitis | Descending colon | Preserved or lost stratification | Normal perigut fat |
| Infectious colitis | Right colon and terminal ileum | Preserved stratification | Thickening of perigut fat, enlarged lymph node |
| Colorectal cancer | Localized | Lost stratification | Normal perigut fat |
| Stratification: Caused by infiltration of the submucosa by tumour or fat. | |||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shirahama M, Koga T, Ishibashi H, Uchida S, Ohta Y (1994). “Sonographic features of colon carcinoma seen with high-frequency transabdominal ultrasound”. J Clin Ultrasound. 22 (6): 359–65. PMID 8071453.
- ↑ Lim JH, Ko YT, Lee DH, Lim JW, Kim TH (1994). “Sonography of inflammatory bowel disease: findings and value in differential diagnosis”. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 163 (2): 343–7. doi:10.2214/ajr.163.2.8037027. PMID 8037027.
- ↑ Lim JH (1996). “Colorectal cancer: sonographic findings”. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 167 (1): 45–7. doi:10.2214/ajr.167.1.8659418. PMID 8659418.
- ↑ Valette PJ, Rioux M, Pilleul F, Saurin JC, Fouque P, Henry L (2001). “Ultrasonography of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases”. Eur Radiol. 11 (10): 1859–66. doi:10.1007/s003300101065. PMID 11702118.
- ↑ Danse EM, Jamart J, Hoang P, Laterre PF, Kartheuser A, Van Beers BE (2004). “Focal bowel wall changes detected with colour Doppler ultrasound: diagnostic value in acute non-diverticular diseases of the colon”. Br J Radiol. 77 (923): 917–21. doi:10.1259/bjr/18038687. PMID 15507414.
- ↑ Kunihiro K, Hata J, Haruma K, Manabe N, Tanaka S, Chayama K (2004). “Sonographic detection of longitudinal ulcers in Crohn disease”. Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 39 (4): 322–6. PMID 15125463.
© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH