Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Distention of the colon's splenic flexure is an enlargement of the splenic flexure beyond what is normal. The splenic flexure is a bend in the colon.
Alternative Names
Colon splenic flexure distention
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Common causes of distension are:
- Infection (such as tuberculosis,
amebiasis ) - Inflammation (
ulcerative colitis ,Crohn's disease ) - Twisting of the colon (torsion, volvulus)
- Obstruction (for example, as a result of cancer)
If the colon does not contract properly, the splenic flexure can become distended.
Review Date: 05/04/2006
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology,
Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System,
Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
