Paracolic Gutters Radiology

In a supine position gravity causes fluid in the upper abdomen to flow from the left upper quadrant and right paracolic gutter into the right upper quadrant.

Paracolic gutters radiology.

The right lateral paracolic gutter. There is a multi cystic mass extending from the pelvis along the right paracolic gutter to the upper abdomen. Fluid may sit within the peritoneal space or paracolic gutters or may be interposed between bowel loops or around solid organs e g. It is also known as sulci paracolic and paracolic recesses.

There are two paracolic gutters. Related radiopaedia articles medical student radiology curriculum. The left lateral paracolic gutter. The paracolic spaces gutters are located lateral to the peritoneal reflections of the left and right sides of the colon fig 8a.

The inframesocolic space also contains paracolic gutters which are peritoneal recesses that are inferolateral extensions of their corresponding inframesocolic spaces on the posterior abdominal wall lateral to the ascending and descending colon respectively. Liver or splenic hemorrhage more typically descends peripherally along the paracolic gutters into the pelvis and is not entrapped in interloop spaces. Between the outer wall of the colon and back side of the abdominal wall there is an open space known as the paracolic gutter. The paracolic gutters paracolic sulci paracolic recesses are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.

Pathologic fluid can pass between the supracolic and infracolic compartments via the paracolic gutters the peritoneal spaces lateral to the ascending and descending colon. Fluid in the right paracolic gutter which structure represents the main communication between the upper and lower abdominal compartments reaches morison s pouch and subsequently the right subphrenic space. The paracolic gutters paracolic sulci paracolic recesses are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall. On the left its cephalad extent is limited by the phrenicocolic ligament.

The right paracolic gutter is larger than the left and communicates freely with the right subphrenic space. Thus centrally located triangular areas of high attenuation abdominal fluid should prompt a search for intraperitoneal bowel or mesenteric injury 7 8. Chief gastrointestinal radiology department of radiologic pathology armed forces institute of pathology washington dc associate professor of radiology uniformed services university of the health sciences bethesda md.