Lymphoma.
"The ileum and the cecum are
the most common sites of involvement by primary lymphoma in the small and large
bowel, respectively. The lymphoma may also extend to the appendix.
Lymphoma of the ileocecal
region most commonly manifests as single or multiple segmentalareas of
circumferential thickening with homogeneous attenuation and poor enhancement.
The bowel wall may display symmetric thickening and is usually markedly thickened
(1.5–7 cm).
Lymphoma of the ileocecal
area may also be seen as a polypoid lesion of variable size that may act as the
lead point of an intussusception. Lymphoma may mimic adenocarcinoma, but in the
former, the segment of bowel involved is usually longer; the transition from
tumor to normal bowel is much more gradual; and associated, possibly bulky
mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymph nodes are usually seen encroaching on the
vessels from both sides .
A classic complication is
ulceration with formation of a fistulous tract to adjacent bowel loops. An
excavating mass is one that involves the entire bowel wall, with bowel entering
and exiting the mass. The lumen or cavity of the mass fills with contrast
material and is usually larger than the bowel entering it; this condition is
referred to as aneurysmal dilatation of the bowel".
The above discussion is quoted from article:
Multi–Detector Row CT: Spectrum of Diseases Involving the Ileocecal Area
Christine Hoeffel, MD, Michel D. Crema, MD, Ahcène Belkacem, MD, Louisa Azizi, MD, Maité Lewin, MD, PhD, Lionel Arrivé, MD and Jean-Michel Tubiana, MD
doi: 10.1148/rg.265045191 September 2006 RadioGraphics, 26, 1373-1390.
URL: http://radiographics.highwire.org/content/26/5/1373.full