What does "Gas within rectum" mean in a report or doctor's letter? In our medical dictionary, you will find a patient-friendly explanation of the meaning of this medical term.
"Gas within rectum" simply refers to the presence of air or gas in the rectum, which is the final section of the large intestine. This is a normal occurrence as the body produces gas during digestion. However, in a medical imaging context, this gas can sometimes interfere with the clarity of the images, causing what is known as a 'susceptibility artifact'. This means that the gas can create distortions or 'artifacts' on the images, making them harder to interpret.
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