Twisted colon. Coloured X-ray of the abdomen of a patient with a twisted colon (large intestine), a condition known as sigmoidal volvulus. The twist i

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Twisted colon. Coloured X-ray of the abdomen of a patient with a twisted colon (large intestine), a condition known as sigmoidal volvulus. The twist is seen at lower centre. The sigmoid colon is at the end of the descending colon (purple/red, top right to lower right). It usually leads towards bottom centre to the rectum (not seen). Here it has twisted, displacing the end of the colon upwards to lower left. Such a volvulus can lead to partial or complete obstruction of the intestine and may reduce the blood supply to the intestine, causing tissue death. It may untwist spontaneously or when externally manipulated, but surgical treatment is usually required.

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Photo credit: © Science Photo Library / Alamy / Afripics
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