Acute intestinal inflammation is common. In most cases the medical history, clinical investigations and laboratory parameters alone are not sufficient for a conclusive diagnosis because of the wide variety of differential diagnoses and the striking similarity of symptoms. Modern imaging methods can help to clarify the diagnosis and multi-slice CT (MSCT) is highly useful in this diagnostic dilemma. It is widely available, employs standardized protocols, is cost-effective and can be performed within an acceptable examination time. MSCT enables the location and extension of the underlying pathology to be assessed and detection of complications which require immediate therapeutic intervention.