Diagnostic finding

Absent distal rectal air

Radiologic finding in which gas is not visualized in the distal rectum on plain radiography or cross-sectional imaging.

Possible causes:

  • Mechanical obstruction: cancer, diverticular stricture, volvulus

  • Fecal impaction

  • Congenital malformation in neonates: Imperforate anus, rectal atresia, colonic atresia

  • Hirschsprung's disease

  • Ogilvie’s syndrome

Referencing diagnoses

Note: Lists existing diagnoses in Diagnotize only.