Vascular impressions of the gut secondary to chronic vascular occlusive disease.

Clinical diagnosis of chronic vascular occlusive disease is difficult since symptoms are often vague. The presence of discrete extrinsic contoural defects along the medial aspect of the descending duodenum or proximal small bowel is a useful diagnostic feature in such patients. Five of eight patients with chronic vascular occlusion who had examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract demonstrated this finding. If presented with this radiographic observation on barium study, visceral arteriography should then be considered.