小肠CT成像联合肠系膜血管CTA对炎症性肠病的诊断价值

目的通过分析炎症性肠病的CT小肠造影影像学征象,并与病理及内镜检查相比对,探讨CT小肠造影对炎症性肠病的诊断价值。方法回顾性分析本院2012年8月～2017年2月期间病历资料完整,收治的129例肠道炎症病例,采用飞利浦Brilliance 256层CT扫描仪,所有患者CTE检查完成后采用多平面重组(multi planar reformation,MPR)技术进行图像后处理,结合临床资料、内镜及病理检查结果,探讨CTE对炎症性肠病的诊断价值。结果 129例患者中,炎症性肠病者55例(克罗恩病34例,溃疡性结肠炎21例),普通肠炎32例,结肠息肉或消化道肿瘤10例,内镜及影像学检查均为阴性23例,肠道充盈不佳5例,影像学阴性且未行内镜检查4例。在55例炎症性肠病患者中,CTE检出克罗恩病29例(检出率85. 3%)、溃疡性结肠炎16例(检出率76. 2%)、普通肠炎22例(检出率66. 7%)。CTE检查对于发生于全结肠的溃疡性结肠炎的诊断与内镜检查的诊断符合率为100%。与普通肠炎检查结果相比,CTE检查显示炎症性肠病患者肠壁增厚、肠壁强化、肠系膜淋巴结肿大、肠系膜血管异常表现(P 0. 05)。结论 CTE检查可较好鉴别诊断炎症性肠病患者与普通肠炎,能较好地显示肠壁病变、肠外病变及并发症,对于炎症性肠病具有较大诊断价值。     

克罗恩病CT小肠造影表现与活动指数的相关性

目的：评估克罗恩病(CD)CT 小肠造影(CTE)表现与临床活动性的相关性。方法回顾性分析37例 CD 患者的临床、CTE 资料,根据临床活动性分类进行分组,观察中度活动期、重度活动期和缓解期3组的肠壁、肠外及并发症影像学表现,经统计学分析,评价影像表现与临床活动性的相关性。结果37例中,中度活动期患者18例,重度活动期10例,缓解期9例,共147个肠段受累,121个肠段肠壁增厚(肠壁≥4 mm),平均厚度约(12.1±3.2)mm。42个肠段为3层状,71个为双层状,34个无分层。20例患者观察到肠系膜淋巴结肿大。27例出现肠系膜末梢直小血管增多密集,呈齿梳征。22例出现肠管周围脂肪密度增高。4例腹腔脓肿,7例瘘管,16例肠梗阻或狭窄,17例肛周脓肿或肛瘘等肛周病变。中度活动期、重度活动期及缓解期3组间肠壁分层、肠壁增厚、齿梳征、肠系膜脂肪密度增高、腹腔脓肿、肠腔狭窄及肠梗阻等征象有统计学差异。结论CTE 能显示 CD 肠壁、肠外改变和并发症情况,有助于缓解期及活动期 CD 的鉴别。     

克罗恩病的小肠CTE联合CTA诊断

目的：探讨CT小肠造影（CTE）联合肠系膜血管成像对克罗恩病的诊断价值。方法：回顾性分析22例经临床确诊的克罗恩病患者的CT资料,所有患者均行小肠CTE联合肠系膜血管重组检查,并采用多种图像后处理技术进行图像重组,由两位放射医师分析病变的影像学表现,并对比常规CTE和CTE结合肠系膜动脉CTA这2种方法对克罗恩病的定位诊断准确性。结果：2 2例克罗恩病患者中共33段小肠受累,采用常规CTE分组法正确诊断22段,联合CTA后正确诊断29段,两者比较差异有统计学意义（χ2＝4．2,P＜0．05）。CTE联合CTA法对各段小肠CD病变的定位诊断符合率均高于常规CTE。克罗恩病的主要CT表现：肠壁增厚（20／22）,肠壁异常强化（17／22）,黏膜强化（10／22）,肠腔狭窄（10／22）,直小血管增多（7／22）,肠系膜淋巴结增生（4／22）;肠外并发症主要为瘘管（1／22）、脓肿（1／22）和肾结石（1／22）等。结论：CTE联合CTA能准确显示克罗恩病的发生部位及病变的特点,定位诊断准确性优于常规CTE。     

克罗恩病的MDCT小肠造影

目的:分析克罗恩病(CD)的CT小肠造影(CTE)特征,探讨CTE在CD诊断中的价值.方法:回顾性研究2005年6月～2008年6月在我院经临床、影像学、肠镜、手术和病理检查确诊为克罗恩病的患者66例(研究组),所有患者皆符合WHO关于CD的诊断标准;选择2007年6月～2008年6月在我院行CTE检查,临床及影像学诊断胃肠道系统无明显病变且排除恶性肿瘤、自身免疫性疾病、肝硬化、心功能衰竭、精神病以及碘过敏的患者20例作为对照组.分析每一病灶的部位、肠壁厚度、肠壁增厚模式、肠腔狭窄、肠管直径、强化特点、并发症及周围脏器受累情况,并结合MDCT重建图像作出诊断.CT值及肠壁厚度均测量2次取平均值.数据分析应用SPSS 11.5统计软件进行分析.结果:克罗恩病最常见的病变部位为回肠(80.3%),最常见的影像学表现是肠壁增厚(95.5%).CTE检查除了能显示肠壁增厚及肠腔狭窄外,还可清晰显示病变肠管周围的并发症,包括肠系膜水肿及增厚、肠系膜淋巴结增生、蜂窝织炎、腹腔脓肿、窦道和窦管形成.66.7%患者可见梳征,有梳征的患者多为A型或B型肠壁增厚(65.9%),而无梳征患者多为C型或D型肠壁增厚(78.9%)(P<0.01),提示梳征与疾病活动度相关.结论:CT小肠造影对克罗恩病的诊断、活动性判断及并发症诊断具有独到的优越性,可作为首选的影像学检查方法,同时还应结合临床症状、肠镜检查以及传统的钡剂小肠造影以正确、完整诊断CD.     

CT和MRI小肠造影对克罗恩病活动期和静止期的对照研究

目的:探讨CT和MRI小肠造影对克罗恩病(Crohn’s disease,CD)活动期与静止期的诊断价值。方法:回顾性分析经手术病理证实的72例CD患者的CT和MRI小肠造影表现,重点观察病变活动期及静止期情况。结果:72例CD中,病变活动期48例,静止期24例。活动期指标:肠壁分层增厚(36/48)、黏膜中重度强化(42/48)、肠壁溃疡形成(14/48)、肠腔狭窄(22/48)、肠瘘(11/48)、蜂窝织炎(13/48)、淋巴结肿大(18/48)、木梳征象(10/48),以上8种征象与静止期比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。静止期指标:肠壁单层增厚(16/24)、黏膜不强化或轻度强化(19/24)、息肉形成(12/24)、腹腔脓肿(6/24),以上4种征象与活动期比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:CT和MRI小肠造影可全面评价CD的活动期与静止期表现,对于指导CD的临床治疗具有重要价值。     

克罗恩病CT与MR小肠成像诊断技术的比较

目的:比较计算机断层摄影小肠成像(CTE)与磁共振肠管成像(MRE)在检测克罗恩病肠壁炎症和肠外表现的准确性和两种检查方法的图像质量。方法:54例克罗恩病患者分别进行CTE(33例)和MRE(21例)检查,并均行肠镜检查。回顾性分析CTE与MRE图像肠壁炎症和肠外表现。以肠镜为标准,计算比较CTE和MRE对于克罗恩病CD肠壁炎症及肠外表现检测的敏感性、特异性,以及CTE和MRE肠管炎症各种异常征象的敏感性。将图像伪影程度分为5个等级,对CT与MR图像质量进行评分。运用Fisher检验比较两种检查方法图像伪影程度的差异。结果:CTE检测克罗恩病肠壁炎症的敏感性为90%(CI67.9%,99.6%),特异性为92.3%(CI 62.1%,99.6%),MRE检测克罗恩病肠壁炎症的敏感性为88.2%(CI62.3%,97.9%),特异性为75%(CI 21.9%,97.9%),两者差别无统计学意义。MRE图像伪影分值高于CTE图像(P<0.05)。结论:CTE和MRE在检测克罗恩病肠壁炎症上具有相同的精确性,CTE图像质量好于MRE。     

小肠CT造影检查克罗恩病的临床价值分析

目的探讨小肠CT造影在克罗恩病(Crohn’s disease,CD)临床诊断中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析24例经肠镜或手术明确诊断的克罗恩病患者的临床资料和小肠CT造影检查资料。结果本组患者临床表现包括腹痛(75%,18/24)、腹泻(70.8%,17/24)、血便或脓血便(25%,6/24)、肛瘘(50%,12/24)。小肠CT造影检查显示病变位于空肠或回肠(16例)、回肠末端及回盲部(20例)、结肠(12例)。病变处肠壁多表现为多节段性增厚,其中2例肠壁增厚呈团块样改变,增强扫描后肠壁单层强化4例(16.7%),双层或多层强化20例(83.3%),1例见强化包块。肠壁系膜侧系膜血管束增多、增粗,其中8例尚表现出"齿梳征"(33.3%,8/24)。本组16例伴有不同程度肠腔狭窄,4例并出现不全性肠梗阻,肛瘘患者12例(50%),未发现腹腔脓肿或肠穿孔。结论小肠CT造影检查可清晰显示病变肠管的改变以及肠管外并发症情况,对克罗恩病诊断具有重要价值。     

多层螺旋CT小肠造影对Crohn病的诊断价值评价

目的:探讨多层螺旋CT小肠造影对Crohn病的诊断价值。方法:回顾性分析经内镜、手术、病理证实的60例Crohn病的多层螺旋CT小肠造影影像学表现。结果:60例中多节段病变43例(72%),单独小肠受累21例(35%)、小肠和大肠同时受累35例(58%)、单独大肠受累4例(7%)。小肠累及的56例(93%)中,累及回肠末端39例(70%)。MSCTE所见包括:肠壁增厚60例(100%)、强化增加58例(97%)、肠壁分层39例(65%)、肠腔狭窄32例(53%)、肠壁脓肿5例(8%)、肠系膜血管增多("梳征")39例(65%)、病变肠管周围纤维脂肪增多19例(32%)、蜂窝织炎40例(67%)、腹腔脓肿和炎性肿块13例(22%)、窦道/瘘管15例(25%)、假憩室12例(20%)、多发淋巴结肿42例(70%)、肛周病变4例(7%)。肠管增厚、肠管分层、强化增加、肠壁内脓肿、病变肠管周围蜂窝织炎、血管增多(梳征)等可反应病变的活动性。动脉期与静脉期比较,未提供肠壁、肠管外病变的更多信息。结论:CT小肠造影可同时显示Crohn病的小肠和结肠病变,对肠壁病变及肠腔外并发症的显示以及在判断病变活动性方面有独特的优越性,可作为首选的影像学检查方法。     

X线、CT和消化内镜对克罗恩病诊断价值的评价

目的 探讨X线、CT及消化内镜对克罗恩病的诊断价值及其限度.方法 回顾性分析经病理、肠镜、手术证实的66例克罗恩病患者X线、CT及消化内镜表现,其中X线小肠+结肠气钡双造影36例,窦道造影28例,全腹部CT平扫+增强54例,消化内镜检查46例,同时行X线小肠+结肠气钡造影和腹部窦道造影18例,行X线小肠+结肠气钡造影和CT检查24例,行 X线小肠+结肠气钡造影和消化内镜检查22例,行CT和消化内镜检36例.结果 36例小肠+结肠气钡双造影中,多节段性病变24例(66.7%),多发性、纵行裂隙状溃疡17例(47.2%),卵石征16例(44.4%),肠瘘4例(11.1%),X线气钡双造影未显示肠壁增厚及腹腔脓肿、炎性包块等肠外并发症,对肠瘘的显示率亦不高.28例腹部窦道造影中,肠瘘20例(71.4%),腹腔脓肿形成16例(57.1%),窦道形成12例(42.8%).54例CT检查,表现为肠壁增厚(＞4 mm)46 例( 85.2%),强化增加(＞20～30 HU) 42例(77.8%),多节段性病变 39例(72.2%),肠腔不规则狭窄38例(70.4%),系膜区淋巴结肿大(＞5 mm)18例( 33.3%),系膜区血管束增多、增粗14例(25.9%),肠管周围蜂窝织炎21例(38.9%),腹腔内脓肿16例(29.6%),炎性包块14例(25.9% ),不全性肠梗阻22例(40.7%),腹腔积液36例(66.7%),瘘管形成8例(14.8% ),CT未显示肠壁线形溃疡和卵石征,对肠瘘的显示率不高.46例消化内镜检查中,纵行裂隙状溃疡26例(56.5%),铺路石样卵石征28例(60.8%),肠腔不规则狭窄36例(78.3%),多节段性病变34例(73.9%),消化内镜未显示肠壁及肠外并发症等病症.结论 X线小肠+结肠气钡造影,腹部窦道造影及CT 3种检查方法相互结合,对于克罗恩病的临床诊断及综合治疗具有重要价值.     

口服造影剂CT全胃肠造影在炎症性肠病中的应用

目的 探讨口服造影剂CT全胃肠造影能否同时显示炎症性肠病累及的小肠和大肠病变。资料与方法 回顾性分析2021年1月—2022年2月北京大学国际医院21例行肠道内镜检查及口服造影剂CT全胃肠造影检查的炎症性肠病患者的图像，包括受累肠段、肠壁异常强化、肠壁增厚、肠周炎性渗出、肠系膜淋巴结肿大、梳齿征、肠腔狭窄、肠瘘等。结果 21例中，单独累及小肠2例，同时累及小肠和回盲部7例，同时累及小肠、回盲部和大肠2例，单独累及大肠9例，同时累及小肠和大肠1例。21例CT均可见肠壁增厚及异常强化，肠周炎性渗出5例，肠系膜淋巴结肿大8例，梳齿征7例，肠腔狭窄7例，结肠袋局部消失10例。结论 口服造影剂CT全胃肠造影能够较好地显示炎症性肠病累及的小肠、大肠和并发的肠外病变。     

Crohn disease of the small bowel: preliminary comparison among CT enterography, capsule endoscopy, small-bowel follow-through, and ileoscopy

PURPOSE: To prospectively compare four diagnostic small-bowel imaging techniques for depiction of abnormal findings in the same patients known to have or suspected of having Crohn disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Patients known to have or suspected of having nonobstructive Crohn disease were recruited. Each patient underwent capsule endoscopy, computed tomographic (CT) enterography, colonoscopy with ileoscopy, and small-bowel follow-through (SBFT). Findings consistent with Crohn disease were tabulated for each imaging examination (diagnostic yield). The proportions of patients with positive findings at each examination were compared, and any significant differences between the tests were calculated by using the exact McNemar test. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (nine women, eight men; mean age, 49 years; range, 18-78 years) completed the study out of 20 patients enrolled. Crohn disease was depicted by capsule endoscopy in 12 patients (71%), ileoscopy in 11 (65%), CT enterography in nine (53%), and SBFT in four (24%). Ileoscopy was incomplete in four patients, and capsule endoscopy was incomplete in two patients. Capsule endoscopy had the highest diagnostic yield for Crohn disease, and SBFT had the lowest, but these differences were not statistically significant (P = .02). SBFT failed to depict a stricture in one patient, which resulted in surgical removal of the capsule. CT enterography and SBFT depicted extraintestinal findings (eg, mesenteric adenopathy in two patients, perianal and enterocolic fistulas in one patient) not detected endoscopically. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study demonstrates capsule endoscopy and CT enterography may depict nonobstructive Crohn disease when techniques such as ileoscopy and SBFT have negative or inconclusive findings.     

Assessment of small bowel Crohn disease: noninvasive peroral CT enterography compared with other imaging methods and endoscopy--feasibility study

A feasibility study was conducted to evaluate two biphasic computed tomographic (CT) enterography protocols, a noninvasive CT technique with water administered perorally and CT enteroclysis with methylcellulose administered through a nasojejunal tube, in 23 patients known or suspected to have Crohn disease. Results were compared with the results of fluoroscopic small bowel examination and terminal ileoscopy for the detection of active Crohn disease in the terminal ileum. Luminal distention did not differ significantly between the two CT protocols. Arterial phase imaging was noncontributory in 22 of 23 cases. The noninvasive peroral water CT enterography protocol had similar accuracy (12 of 15 cases, 80%) for enabling the detection of active Crohn disease in comparison with CT enteroclysis with nasojejunal tube (seven of eight, 88%) and fluoroscopic small bowel examination (17 of 23, 74%). No fistulas were missed with use of either CT technique. The authors conclude that noninvasive peroral portal venous phase CT enterography with use of water is an accurate and feasible technique for detecting active small bowel inflammation in patients with Crohn disease.     

Crohn Disease: mural attenuation and thickness at contrast-enhanced CT Enterography--correlation with endoscopic and histologic findings of inflammation

PURPOSE: To determine retrospectively if quantitative measures of small-bowel mural attenuation and thickness at computed tomographic (CT) enterography correlate with endoscopic and histologic findings of small-bowel inflammation and to estimate the performance of these measures in predicting inflammatory Crohn disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved this HIPAA-compliant retrospective study, which was conducted with patient informed consent. CT enterography data in 96 patients (31 male patients and 65 female patients) who underwent ileoscopy with or without biopsy were examined for CT signs of active Crohn disease. The most highly enhancing segment of terminal ileum and a normal-appearing ileal loop were identified. After it was confirmed that semiautomated software could accurately measure mural attenuation and thickness, the selected terminal ileal and normal-appearing (control) ileal loops were examined (20 automated measurements at each location) to quantify mural attenuation and wall thickness. Results were compared with endoscopy and histology reports by using logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Quantitative measures of terminal ileal mural attenuation and wall thickness correlated significantly with active Crohn disease (P < .001). Small-bowel wall thickness was not a significant factor after attenuation was taken into account. A threshold attenuation value with a sensitivity of 90% (18 of 20) for definite Crohn disease (compared with a sensitivity of 80% [16 of 20] for radiologist assessment) was selected. In patients who underwent ileal biopsy, threshold attenuation had a sensitivity identical to that of ileoscopy (81% [26 of 32]; 95% confidence interval: 64%, 93%) in predicting histologic inflammation. CONCLUSION: Quantitative measures of mural attenuation and wall thickness at CT enterography correlate highly with ileoscopic and histologic findings of inflammatory Crohn disease. Quantitative measures of mural attenuation are sensitive markers of small bowel inflammation.     

Active Crohn disease: CT findings and interobserver agreement for enteric phase CT enterography

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate small-bowel enhancement characteristics and the sensitivity, specificity, and interobserver agreement of computed tomographic (CT) findings by using histologic and endoscopic results as a reference standard in patients undergoing enteric phase CT enterography. MATERIALS AND METhods: The institutional review board approved this retrospective HIPAA-compliant study, which included patients who consented to having their medical records used for research purposes. Enteric phase CT enterographic and ileoscopic findings with or without ileal histologic results were examined in 42 patients (24 women, 18 men). Enteric phase CT enterography was performed after 150 mL of intravenous contrast material was administered at 4 mL/sec, with a 45-second delay. Mural attenuation was measured in the distended and collapsed jejunal and ileal loops and in the terminal ileum. Two radiologists examined CT images for findings of Crohn disease. Mural attenuation for different bowel loops was compared by using a Student t test, with kappa statistics used to measure interobserver agreement and Pearson correleation coefficients used to compare visual and quantitative measures. RESULTS: Distended jejunal loops had significantly greater attenuation than distended ileal loops (113 HU vs 72 HU; P < .001). Attenuation of collapsed jejunal (134 HU) and ileal (108 HU) loops was greater than that of distended jejunal and ileal loops (P < .001). Terminal ileal enhancement was the most sensitive visual CT finding of Crohn disease for both radiologists. Mural thickening demonstrated the greatest interobserver agreement (kappa = 0.83). Visual enhancement and quantitative mural attenuation were significantly correlated (P < .003). CONCLUSION: At enteric phase CT enterography, jejunal attenuation is greater than ileal attenuation and collapsed bowel loops demonstrate greater attenuation than distended bowel loops. Mural hyperenhancement and increased mural thickness are the most sensitive CT findings of active Crohn disease.     

The role of capsule endoscopy after negative CT enterography in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) after negative computed tomographic (CT) enterography.

Methods

We retrospectively included 30 patients with OGIB who received capsule endoscopy after negative CT enterography. The median age of the patients was 60?years, and 60% of patients were male. The median follow-up duration was 8?months. Overt bleeding was 60%, and occult bleeding was 40%.

Results

Based on capsule endoscopy results, a definitive diagnosis was made for 17 patients (57%): ulcer in nine patients (30%), active bleeding with no identifiable cause in five (17%), angiodysplasia in two (7%) and Dieulafoy’s lesion in one (3%). Two patients with jejunal ulcers were diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Seven patients (41%) with positive capsule endoscopy received double balloon enteroscopy and two patients (12%) received steroid treatment for Crohn’s disease. Patients with overt bleeding, a previous history of bleeding, or who received large amounts of blood transfusions were more likely to show positive capsule endoscopy.

Conclusions

Capsule endoscopy showed high diagnostic yields in patients with OGIB after negative CT enterography and may help to provide further therapeutic plans for patients with OGIB and negative CT enterography.

Key Points

? CT enterography has been widely used in evaluating obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). ? Capsule endoscopy showed high diagnostic yield for OGIB after negative CT enterography. ? Negative CT enterography does not exclude important causes of small bowel bleeding. ? Most lesions missed at CT-enterography are flat and can be detected by capsule endoscopy.     

CT小肠造影对克罗恩病活动期与静止期的诊断价值

目的探讨CT小肠造影对克罗恩病(CD)活动期与静止期的诊断价值,以期对临床治疗有所帮助。资料与方法回顾性分析经病理、手术证实的39例CD患者的CT小肠造影表现,重点观察病变活动期及静止期情况。结果 39例CD,病变活动期28例,慢性期11例,活动期指标:肠壁分层、重度强化、木梳征、淋巴结肿大、肠瘘、蜂窝织炎,发生例数分别为:23/28(81.4%)、21/28(75%)、9/28(32.1%)、13/28(46.4%)、13/28(46.4%)、12/28(42.8%);慢性期指标:肠壁单层增厚、不强化～轻度强化、肠壁内脂肪、脓肿、炎性肿块,发生例数分别为:7/11(63.6%)、8/11(72.7%)、4/11(36.4%)、10/11(90.9%)、7/11(63.6%)。结论 CT小肠造影可全面评价CD的活动性与静止性表现,对于指导CD的临床治疗具有重要价值。     

Multiplanar spiral CT enterography in patients with Crohn's disease using a negative oral contrast material: initial results of a noninvasive imaging approach

The aim of this study was to prospectively define the role of multiplanar spiral CT enterography with a new negative oral contrast material for noninvasive assessment of the small bowel in patients with Crohn's disease. Thirty patients with established Crohn's disease prospectively underwent spiral CT enterography at 45-60 min after distension of the small bowel with 1400 ml of a negative oral contrast material (Mucofalk water enema). Spiral CT scans were obtained 50 s after administration of intravenous contrast material with the following parameters: 5-mm collimation; 7.5-mm/s table feed; and 3-mm reconstruction interval. The adequacy of bowel opacification, luminal distension, and the contribution of two-dimensional multiplanar reformatted imaging were assessed by two observers. Spiral CT imaging findings were compared with results of enteroclysis as well as endoscopic and histological findings in all patients. Spiral CT enterography with Mucofalk water enema was well tolerated in 29 of 30 patients. Findings on spiral CT enterography were comparable with those of barium studies in 25 of 30 patients, superior to those on barium studies in 4 patients, and inferior in 1 patient ( p<0.05). The addition of multiplanar reformatted images to axial spiral CT scans significantly improved observers' confidence in image interpretation ( p<0.05) but did not reveal additional abnormalities. Multiplanar spiral CT enterography with Mucofalk excellently provides information in patients with Crohn's disease. This technique accurately depicts the level of small bowel obstruction and the extent of inflammatory small bowel disease and its extraluminal complications.     

The role of nasoenteric intubation in the MR study of patients with Crohn??s disease: our experience and literature review

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare magnetic resonance (MR) enteroclysis with MR enterography to verify whether nasoenteric intubation in patients affected by Crohn??s disease can provide supplementary information to that afforded by MR study of the small bowel.

Materials and methods

In a 12-month period, 40 patients (28 women and 12 men, mean age 35 years) affected by Crohn??s disease underwent MR imaging. Distension of the small-bowel loops was obtained by administering polyethylene glycol: 15 patients were given the mixture by mouth (MR enterography), whereas the remaining 25 received it via nasoenteric intubation (MR enteroclysis). Our study protocol included morphological sequences taken before and after intravenous injection of contrast medium and real-time functional sequences. Accuracy criteria for the execution of the examinations were designed according to 11 bands.

Results

Complete distension of the small-bowel loops was obtained in the 25 patients who underwent MR enteroclysis, with the additional advantage of a suitable assessment of those segments involved in the pathological process. This was not the case for the 15 patients who underwent MR enterography, because both the jejunum and the small-bowel loops appeared partially collapsed.

Conclusions

MR enteroclysis is the most effective technique for studying the small bowel in Crohn??s disease, as it not only provides a suitable morphological assessment but also supplies functional information.     

MR enterography of Crohn disease: part 2, imaging and pathologic findings

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review MR enterography technique and imaging findings suggestive of Crohn disease on these examinations. This article will also allow the reader to self-assess and improve his or her skills in the performance and interpretation of MR enterography examinations. CONCLUSION: This article reviews the technique of performing MR enterography examinations. MRI plays a valuable role in providing accurate information about severity of and complications related to Crohn disease and can help in guiding surgical or medical treatment.     

MR enterography of Crohn disease: part 1, rationale, technique, and pitfalls

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review the technique of performing MR enterography examinations and to review the imaging findings suggestive of Crohn disease. This article will also allow the reader to self-assess and improve his or her skills in the performance and interpretation of MR enterography examinations. CONCLUSION: MRI plays a valuable role in providing accurate information about the severity of and complications related to Crohn disease and can help in guiding surgical or medical treatment.