Computed tomography for diagnosis and risk stratification of small bowel obstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Eur J RadiolJun 10, 2026 (epub)
Zhenghaoyu Huang, Han Lin, Mengmeng Liu et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic performance of computed tomography (CT) in small bowel obstruction (SBO) across 66 studies involving 6,650 patients. The findings revealed a pooled sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 85% for overall SBO diagnosis. CT demonstrated moderate accuracy in predicting surgical intervention with a sensitivity of 75%.
Key findings
- CT showed pooled sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 85% for overall SBO diagnosis.
- For ischemia, pooled sensitivity was 76% and specificity was 94%.
- Multiphase CT had higher sensitivity for ischemia than single-phase CT (83% vs. 72%).
- CT had a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 81% for predicting surgical intervention.
Why it matters
Understanding the diagnostic accuracy of CT in SBO can enhance clinical decision-making, particularly in determining the need for surgical intervention and identifying ischemia, which is critical for patient management.