Angiographic manifestations of regional enteritis

Regional enteritis may be a protean disease, easily diagnosed when the common clinical presentation is noted. Occasionally, however, "atypical" features lead to the clinical suspicion of neoplastic disease. Four patients underwent angiographic evaluation in this clinical setting, all demonstrating similar changes in the mesenteric arteries. A serrated, "corkscrew" pattern was present and corresponded well to the perivascular fibrosis noted histologically. Recognition of this angiographic pattern may be important in differentiating neoplastic from inflammatory disease processes.