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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffBased on your signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend these imaging tests:
- CT or MR angiography, to provide detailed images of blood flow in your small intestine and to look for blocked arteries. Sometimes, the doctor can treat the blocked arteries during the angiogram.
- Arteriography, to provide X-ray images of blood vessels.
Other procedures include:
- Endoscopy, to image the upper part of your small intestine. Endoscopy can help your doctor rule out other conditions as the cause of your digestive problems.
- Colonoscopy, to image the large intestine.
- Exploratory surgery, to locate and remove damaged tissue. Exploratory surgery allows for diagnosis and treatment during one procedure.
References
- Feldman M, et al. Sleisinger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathology, Diagnosis, Management. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookHome&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&uniq=200844987-3. Accessed June 19, 2012.
- Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html. Accessed June 19, 2012.
- Catheter angiography. RadiologyInfo.org. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=angiocath. Accessed June 19, 2012.
- What is atherosclerosis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/. Accessed June 20, 2012.
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