Roentgenographic mucosal patterns in the "malabsorption syndrome" - A scheme for diagnosis

A reevaluation was undertaken of roentgenographic findings as seen in diseases producing malabsorption. Seventy-nine cases were reviewed of patients having both small-bowel series and small-bowel biopsies. The emphasis was on the evaluation of roentgenographic small-bowel mucosal patterns and their correlation with histologic changes. Absorption test results were reviewed and the patients were then grouped and discussed on the following bases: (1) normals (controls), (2) those with adult celiac disease (treated and untreated), (3) those patients with diseases manifesting primarily in thickened mucosal folds, (4) those patients having had a gastrectomy, and (5) a miscellaneous group. Criteria for satisfactory differentiation between these diseases or disease groups was developed and a practical approach to the roentgenographic differentiation of these diseases was outlined.