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Question

When looking an abdominal radiograph, what are the bowel diameter measurements that are generally NOT normally exceeded and would be concerning for potential obstruction?

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Answer

The normal diameter of the intestines on an abdominal radiograph generally do not exceed:

• 3 cm for small bowel
• 6 cm for the colon
• 9 cm for the cecum

This is often referred to as the 3/6/9 rule.

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References

1. Radiopaedia. https://radiopaedia.org/articles/3-6-9-rule-bowel?lang=us
2. Geeky Medis. https://geekymedics.com/abdominal-x-ray-interpretation/