Radiographic Diagnosis of Atresia Coli in a Korean Native Calf

A 5-day-old male Korean native calf was referred with the primary complaint of anorexia, absence of feces, depression, and abdominal distention. Although this case was tentatively diagnosed as atresia coli, plain and contrast radiography was performed to confirm site and appearance of obstruction. A plain radiograph revealed gas distension in the large intestine, with absence of fecal material in the descending colon. In a contrast radiograph, the blind part of descending colon that was accumulated with contrast media smoothly protruded to distended colon with gas and the middle part was seen as narrow. These findings were well corresponded with the mucosal blockage junction between distended spiral loop with gas and descending colon that was hypoplasia or atropy in necropsy. In conclusion, contrast radiography was considered very useful method to identify the site and type of obstruction in diagnosis of atresia coli.