CASE 11445 Published on 19.12.2013

Septic thrombophlebitis of inferior mesenteric vein due to sigmoid diverticulitis

Section

Abdominal imaging

Case Type

Clinical Cases

Authors

Naveen Bhatt

Patient

61 years, male

Categories
Area of Interest Abdomen, Colon, Gastrointestinal tract, Portal system / Hepatic veins, Emergency ; Imaging Technique CT
Clinical History
A 61-year-old man was admitted to the Accidents and Emergency department with left iliac fossa pain and vomiting.
Increasing lactate in spite of intravenous fluids.
Clinically perforated sigmoid diverticulum.
Imaging Findings
AXR- No free gas under the diaphragm. No bowel obstruction or air fluid level in the left iliac fossa.
CT abdomen- Sigmoid diverticular disease with inflammatory changes in the adjoining mesentery.
Inferior mesenteric vein was not opacified and showed fat stranding throughout the drainage course into the splenic vein.
At the site of entry into the splenic vein there was a filling defect suggesting splenic venous thrombus.
Portal vein and the right branch of portal vein show intraluminal thrombus.
Superior mesenteric vein, infrahepatic IVC were normal.
No free fluid or free air in the abdomen.
Incidental ankylosing spondylosis.
Discussion
The patient was admitted with left iliac fossa pain and high lactate which did not improve over next 24 hours despite supportive measures and the clinical suspicion changed from diverticulitis to perforation/ischaemic bowel.

Initial abdominal X-ray was within normal limits and follow-up CT showed sigmoid diverticulitis. Draining veins were not opacified suggesting occlusion and there was surrounding inflammation throughout the course of the inferior mesenteric vein suggesting septic thrombophlebitis of the inferior mesenteric vein.

Complications of diverticular disease in acute presentation include diverticulitis, localised perforation/ abscess and very rarely thrombophlebitis.

Septic thrombophlebitis of a mesenteric vein is rare complication of diverticulitis.
The patient is currently being medically managed with antibiotics and anticoagulants. [1, 2, 3]
Differential Diagnosis List
Septic thrombophlebitis of inferior mesenteric vein due to sigmoid diverticulitis
Diverticular abscess and perforation
Ischaemic large bowel
Final Diagnosis
Septic thrombophlebitis of inferior mesenteric vein due to sigmoid diverticulitis
Case information
URL: https://www.eurorad.org/case/11445
DOI: 10.1594/EURORAD/CASE.11445
ISSN: 1563-4086