Clinical usefulness of abdominal CT-scanning in Henoch-Schönlein vasculitis.

The abdominal CT appearance is reported in a patient with Henoch-Schönlein vasculitis having symptoms of acute abdomen. Initial CT-scan showed segmented mural thickening of the small bowel loops, strongly suggesting the diagnosis of gastrointestinal involvement of vasculitis. Adequate treatment was started without the need for laparotomy. The CT appearance completely resolved after steroid therapy. Abdominal CT-scanning seems useful in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen in patients with vasculitis.