Fig. 29

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome. Arterial phase of an abdominal CT study of a female adolescent (a) shows dilatation of the duodenum (asterisk) upstream to the point where it crosses the SMA and the aorta (arrow). Note paucity of abdominal fat. Oblique sagittal reformation of another patient (b) shows reduction of the normal aortomesenteric angle (9º) and aortomesenteric distance (6 mm). Fluoroscopic series of a 10-year-old girl after surgical correction of kyphosis c shows obstruction at D3 with delayed passage of contrast through the stenosis (asterisk) and proximal dilatation of D2(arrows). This was due to SMA syndrome caused by lengthening of the vertebral column