The target sign: a significant CT sign for predicting small-bowel ischemia and necrosis

To investigate the correlation between changes in the thickness and density of diseased small-bowel wall and small-bowel ischemia and necrosis (SBN) on CT imaging when small-bowel obstruction (SBO) occurs.

We retrospectively analyzed 186 patients with SBO in our hospital from March 2020 to June 2023. The patients were divided into simple SBO (control group) and SBN (case group) groups. We used logistic regression analysis, the chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test to analyze the correlation between the changes in the thickness and density of the diseased intestinal wall and the SBN. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the accuracy of the multivariate analysis.

Of the 186 patients with SBO, 98 (52.7%) had simple SBO, 88 (47.3%) had SBN, and the rate of SBN was 47.3% (88/186). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that six CT findings were significantly correlated with SBN (p < 0.05), namely, thickening of the diseased intestinal wall with the target sign (OR = 21.615), thinning of the diseased intestinal wall (OR = 48.106), increase in the diseased intestinal wall density (OR = 13.696), mesenteric effusion (OR = 21.635), decrease in the diseased intestinal wall enhancement on enhanced scanning (OR = 41.662), and increase in the diseased intestinal wall enhancement on enhanced scanning (OR = 15.488). The AUC of the multivariate analysis reached 0.987 (95% CI 0.974–0.999). Specifically, the target sign was easily recognizable on CT images and was a significant CT finding for predicting SBN.

We identified 6 CT findings that were significantly associated with SBN, and may be helpful for clinical treatment.