What does stranding mean in a CT scan?
This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists. Fat stranding is a sign that is seen on CT. It describes the change in attenuation of fat around an inflamed structure and is a very helpful signpost for intra-abdominal pathology.
What is mesenteric fat necrosis?
Mesenteric fat necrosis causing bowel obstruction is a rare occurrence with only one case reported in humans. It is due to accidental or surgical trauma to the adipose tissue with extracellular liberation of fat or enzymatic lysis of fat due to the release of lipases resulting in fibrosis.
What causes fat necrosis in abdomen?
Common processes that are present in fat necrosis include torsion of an epiploic append- age, infarction of the greater omentum, and fat necrosis related to trauma or pancreatitis.
What does mesenteric fat mean?
Mesenteric fat is a specific type of visceral adipose tissue, which is drained by the portal circulation, and has different metabolic characteristics (eg, higher lipoprotein activity) from any other type of adipose tissue, including the subcutaneous and the retroperitoneal fat. From: Clinics in Liver Disease, 2007.
What causes fat stranding on CT?
The clinical presentation—acute or chronic—is a key diagnostic feature. Acute conditions that cause fat stranding include peritonitis; inflammation, infection, or ischemia of the bowel; perforation of colon cancer; inflammation associated with pancreatitis or cholecystitis; trauma; and surgery.
What does fat stranding indicate?
Fat stranding refers to an abnormal increased attenuation in fat, (in the mesentery, omentum, retroperitoneum, or subcutaneous fat). The underlying pathophysiologic process is increased edema and engorgement of lymphatics. Abdominal fat stranding can produce various appearances.
What does fat necrosis look like?
Fat necrosis feels like a firm, round lump (or lumps) and is usually painless, but in some people it may feel tender or even painful. The skin around the lump may look red, bruised or occasionally dimpled. Sometimes fat necrosis can cause the nipple to be pulled in.
How do you fix fat necrosis?
Fat necrosis doesn’t usually need to be treated, and it often goes away on its own. If you have any pain, you can take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or apply a warm compress to the area. You can also gently massage the area. If the lump becomes very big or bothers you, a doctor can do surgery to remove it.
How does fat necrosis feel?
What are the symptoms of fat necrosis? Fat necrosis feels like a firm, round lump (or lumps) and is usually painless, but in some people it may feel tender or even painful. The skin around the lump may look red, bruised or occasionally dimpled. Sometimes fat necrosis can cause the nipple to be pulled in.
How do you treat fat necrosis?
How can I reduce mesenteric fat?
How can I reduce visceral fat?
- exercising for at least 30 minutes every day (for example by brisk walking, cycling, aerobic exercise and strength training)
- eating a healthy diet.
- not smoking.
- reducing sugary drinks.
- getting enough sleep.
What causes fat stranding?
Acute conditions that cause fat stranding include peritonitis; inflammation, infection, or ischemia of the bowel; perforation of colon cancer; inflammation associated with pancreatitis or cholecystitis; trauma; and surgery.
When does fat stranding occur in inflammatory bowel disease?
In inflammatory bowel disease, fat stranding can be seen when the inflammatory process extends from the bowel into the fat or involves the fat exclusively. Hazy (ground-glass) fat stranding in the mesentery in Crohn disease results in a “misty” mesentery, with increased attenuation of the mesenteric fat.
What kind of disease is Sclerosing mesenteric panniculitis?
General Discussion. Mesenteric panniculits, also known as sclerosing mesenteritis, belongs to a spectrum of rare diseases of the fatty (adipose) tissue of the mesentery. Mesenteric panniculitis is characterized by fat degeneration and necrosis, chronic inflammation, and at times, scarring and fibrosis of fatty tissue within the mesentery.
Which is more severe perienteric fat stranding or wall thickening?
• Perienteric fat stranding disproportionally more severe than the degree of wall thickening suggests an inflammatory condition. • Regular, symmetric and homogeneous wall thickening is more frequently due to benign conditions, but can also be caused by neoplasms such as well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and lymphoma.
Where does fat stranding occur in the body?
Fat stranding is a non-specific sign in itself and can be seen in infectious, inflammatory, malignant, or traumatic conditions. There are several patterns of fat stranding in the abdomen which can occur within the mesentery or surrounding solid organs 1,2:
