Stercoral perforation - sigmoid colon

Case contributed by Ammar Haouimi
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Chronic constipation, presented with lower abdominal pain and fever. History of left femoral neck fracture a few months ago treated with medication and rehabilitation.

Patient Data

Age: 80 years
Gender: Female

The CT scan shows:

  • distended colon filled with feces 
  • large rectal fecaloma with mural thickening
  • focal perforation of the right lateral wall of the sigmoid colon (15 mm) with adjacent extraluminal collection (gas/feces) as well as perisigmoid free air and fat stranding.
  • other findings:
    • left femoral neck fracture
    • thrombosis of the common femoral veins (certainly due to  the prolonged immobilization)
    • partially thrombosed aneurysm of the splenic artery
Annotated image

Red arrows: site of sigmoid perforation

Case Discussion

CT features of a stercoral perforation of the sigmoid colon with parasigmoid collection (air/feces) secondary to a rectal fecaloma, which was confirmed at surgery.

In this case, the fracture of the femoral neck with immobilization is considered as a risk factor for the development of fecaloma and deep vein thrombosis

 

Additional contributor; A. Ramdani, MD

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