HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fiorella, D. J. Articles by Donnelly, L. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fiorella, D. J. Articles by Donnelly, L. F.

Frequency of Right Lower Quadrant Position of the Sigmoid Colon in Infants and Young Children¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC (D.J.F.); and the Department of Radiology, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 (L.F.D.). Received May 16, 2000; revision requested June 19; revision received July 22; accepted July 25. Address correspondence to L.F.D. (e-mail: donnelly.lf@chmcc.org).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of right lower quadrant positioning of the sigmoid colon in infants and young children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Findings in 169 patients who underwent enema examination were retrospectively reviewed. Sigmoid colon position was categorized as in the left or right lower quadrant or midline. Patients who had an anatomic abnormality that affected colonic position (eg, malrotation or abdominal mass) or had previously undergone abdominal surgery were excluded. The frequency of right lower quadrant sigmoid position was evaluated for a relationship with patient age (analysis of variance) and sex (² test).

RESULTS: Patient ages were 1 day to 5 years (mean age, 13 months). The sigmoid colon was in the right lower quadrant in 74 (44%), in the left lower quadrant in 73 (43%), and in the midline in 18 (11%). The position was variable in one patient and indeterminate in three. When the sigmoid colon was within the right lower quadrant, it often extended laterally, overlying the position of the cecum and ascending colon. There were no significant correlations between right lower quadrant position and patient age (P = .262) and sex (P = .162).

CONCLUSION: In children, the sigmoid colon is often within the right lower quadrant. Knowledge of this high frequency should reduce the likelihood of misinterpreting air within a redundant right-sided sigmoid colon as air within the cecum in children suspected of having abnormalities such as intussusception.

Index terms: Children, gastrointestinal tract, 756.139 • Intestines, 756.139 • Normal variant, 756.139