Imaging Spectrum of Large Intestinal Lesions: A Pictorial Essay

Evaluating colorectal lesions by means of radiographic imaging continues to play a major role in detecting and staging cancer of the lower gastrointestinal tract. The diagnosis of large bowel lesions namely Colitis, Vascular and Neoplasm had traditionally been made on the basis of barium enema and/or colonoscopy. Cross sectional imaging as Computed tomography scanning (CT) and MRI plays a pivotal role in the evaluation of patients with nonspecific and in acute abdominal complaints to achieve an accurate diagnosis. The objective of this pictorial essay is to provide a review of the diseases involving the large bowel with an emphasis on the radiologic differentiating features by cross sectional imaging.