The Role of MR Enterography in Crohn’s Disease

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) in the diagnosis and follow-up of Crohn’s Disease.
Material and Methot: Between November 2013 and April 2014, patients who were MRE examinations for a preliminary or definitive diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease were reviewed retrospectively. MRE imaging of the patients was performed on an 8-channel 1.5 Tesla MRI device. Primary and secondary MRE results and contrast enhancement patterns of active and chronic inflammation of Crohn’s disease in jejunum, ileum, terminal ileum, and colon segments were evaluated by two radiologists.
Results: The results consistent with Crohn’s Disease were detected in 19 (10 male, 9 female) of 42 patients (24 male, 18 female, mean age was 40.64 years, min-max: 20-69, SD±14.27). Signs of active inflammation which were intestinal wall thickening, T2 signal reduction, and pathological mucosal contrast enhancement were observed in 19 patients (26 intestinal segments). Active inflammation findings were most common in the terminal ileum, with 16 (61.5%), followed by 5 (19.2%) in the ascending colon, 2 (7.6%) in the jejunum, 2 (7.6%) in the nonterminal ileum, and 1 (3.8%) in the sigmoid colon. Chronic inflammation findings such as intestinal stenosis (18 intestinal segments), submucosal fat deposition (16 intestinal segments), and prestenotic dilatation (13 intestinal segments) were observed in 13 patients. There was an ileosigmoid fistula in 1 patient, enterovesical fistula in 1 patient, and enterocutaneous fistula in 1 patient.
Conclusion: MRE is an appropriate diagnostic method without ionizing radiation, which can be used to detect the stage of inflammation (active or chronic) in the diseased intestinal segments in the diagnosis and follow-up of Crohn’s disease. 

Keywords

• Crohn
• MR Enterography
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

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