Gastrointestinal Air Motion Artifact Which Can Be Mistaken for Active Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Multidetector Computed Tomography: Phantom and Clinical Study

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Abstract
Objectives We investigated the computed tomographic characteristics of gastrointestinal air motion artifact (GIAMA), which can be misinterpreted as active gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods We simulated GIAMA using 3 types of air-ball phantoms (air-ball in water, air-ball in oil, air-water-ball in oil) and a bovine intestine in oil phantom. We also performed a retrospective clinical review of precontrast abdominal computed tomography images of 76 patients to investigate the frequency, location, shape, and maximum density of hyperdense GIAMA. Results In phantom studies, air motion artifacts appeared as dark and bright streak artifacts at the borders of a moving air-ball and water or oil. In the clinical study, hyperdense GIAMA was visualized in 60 (79.0%) of 76 patients. The small intestine was most commonly affected (46.4%), and the intramural type had the highest frequency (58.0%). Conclusion Knowing the radiologic features of GIAMA can assists radiologists in identifying active gastrointestinal bleeding sites accurately.

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