[A 90-year-old woman with acute abdomen].

Bowel strangulation is defined as mechanical obstruction associated with compromised blood circulation of the bowel wall. Delayed diagnosis and treatment are the main causes of the high mortality. A 90-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with acute abdominal pain. Plain abdominal x-ray studies were inconclusive. However, bowel strangulation was suggested by computer tomography and the diagnosis was confirmed under the laparotomy. In the case of bowel strangulation, abdominal CT is a fast, reliable and useful diagnostic tool when imaging is considered necessary before a laparotomy.