Ascites is well demonstrated by ct.
Paracolic gutter fluid ct.
General ct findings of early and late stage pid include thickening of the uterosacral ligaments pelvic fat stranding with obscuration of fascial planes reactive lymphadenopathy and pelvic free fluid.
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.
Etiologically it means a channel adjacent to the abdominal wall.
Given the nonspecific clinical manifestations computed tomography ct is commonly the first imaging examination performed.
Dense fluid may suggest hemoperitoneum especially in the context of trauma.
Paracolic gutters function to drain fluid that leaks from the colon such as infectious matter pus or bile and to prevent infection or damage to the outer margin of the colon.
It is also known as sulci paracolic and paracolic recesses.
The inframesocolic space also contains paracolic gutters which are peritoneal recesses that are inferolateral extensions of their corresponding inframesocolic spaces on the posterior abdominal wall lateral to the ascending and descending colon respectively.
B ct scan of the pelvis shows that the bowel loops of the oral aspect of the intestine are dilated arrowhead and the bowel loops of the anal aspect are collapsed arrow.
Between the outer wall of the colon and back side of the abdominal wall there is an open space known as the paracolic gutter.
It is the depression between the postero lateral wall of the abdomen and the lateral margins of the ascending and descending colon.
Small amounts of ascitic fluid localize in the right perihepatic space the posterior subhepatic space i e morison s pouch and the pouch of douglas.
Fluid on ct is relatively hypodense dark on ct.
The paracolic gutters paracolic sulci paracolic recesses are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.
Laparotomy was performed 6 hours after ct.
The ascending colon a is displaced anteriorly and ascites arrowhead is seen in the right paracolic gutter.
The main paracolic gutter lies lateral to the colon on each side.
Fluid may sit within the peritoneal space or paracolic gutters or may be interposed between bowel loops or around solid organs e g.
It can be compared to fluid in the gallbladder or stomach.
Computed tomography ct is particularly.
When larger amounts of ascites are present the fluid accumulates in the paracolic gutters causing progressive centralization of bowel loops.
