American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 169, 481-483, Copyright © 1997 by American Roentgen Ray Society
Herniation of the transverse colon after esophagectomy: is retrocardiac air a normal postoperative finding?
MJ Gollub and MS Bains
Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
OBJECTIVE: This study describes the radiographic and CT imaging features of
colonic herniation complicating esophagogastrectomy in three patients, all
of whom required surgery. CONCLUSION: After routine esophagogastrectomy
with gastric pull-through for esophageal carcinoma, the intrathoracic
gastric pull-through most often lies in a right paraspinal location. Once a
left-sided gastric pull-through has been excluded, radiologists must be
suspicious for left retrocardiac air lucency that possibly represents
herniation of the nearby colon. Early diagnosis is important for the
prevention of bowel strangulation, especially of the ischemia-susceptible
splenic flexure.
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