New clinical and radiographic signs in ischemic colitis

The clinical manifestations of ischemic colitis typically include bloody diarrhea, crampy lower abdominal pain, and abdominal distention. Occlusion of the arterial blood supply of the colon may or may not be present. Low flow states due to either hypovolemia or cardiac problems are apparently equally important. A review of the literature did not disclose any other causes for slough of long continuous segments of colonic mucosa. This is considered a specific sigmoidoscopic and radiographic sign of ischemic colitis.