Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Enterography Findings in Crohn's Disease: What Does the Clinician Need to Know from the Radiologist?

Abstract

French

The purpose of this pictorial essay was to discuss and illustrate computed tomography and magnetic resonance enterography findings in patients with Crohn's disease. These noninvasive and easily performed methods for the evaluation of Crohn's disease are useful for differentiating between active and fibrotic bowel disease, and can help to guide treatment (medical vs surgical). Although inflammatory and fibrostenotic findings of Crohn's disease may overlap, computed tomography and magnetic resonance enterography can help to identify the presence, extent, and severity of active inflammation that may respond to medical therapy, and the existence of fistulas and fibrostenosis that may benefit from surgical management.

Keywords

Crohn's Enterography Computed tomography Magnetic resonance Inflammation Fibrostenosis

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Fidler

J.L.

Guimaraes

Einstein

D.M.

MR imaging of the small bowel

Radiographics 2009; 29:1811–1825.

Huprich

J.E.

Fletcher

J.G.

CT enterography: principles, technique and utility in Crohn's disease

Eur J Radiol 2009; 69:393–397.

Elsayes

K.M.

Al-Hawary

M.M.

Jagdish

CT enterography: principles, trends, and interpretation of findings

Radiographics 2010; 30:1955–1970.

Zappa

Stefanescu

Cazals-Hatem

Which magnetic resonance imaging findings accurately evaluate inflammation in small bowel Crohn's disease? A retrospective comparison with surgical pathologic analysis

Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011; 17:984–993.

Chiorean

M.V.

Sandrasegaran

Saxena

Correlation of CT enteroclysis with surgical pathology in Crohn's disease

Am J Gastroenterol 2007; 102:2541–2550.

Punwani

Rodriguez-Justo

Bainbridge

Mural inflammation in Crohn disease: location-matched histologic validation of MR imaging features

Radiology 2009; 252:712–720.

Siddiki

Fidler

MR imaging of the small bowel in Crohn's disease

Eur J Radiol 2009; 69:409–417.

Sinha

Verma

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

AJR Am J Roentgenol 2011; 197:80–85.

Paulsen

S.R.

Huprich

J.E.

Fletcher

J.G.

CT enterography as a diagnostic tool in evaluating small bowel disorders: review of clinical experience with over 700 cases

Radiographics 2006; 26:641–657 discussion 57–62

10.

Tolan

D.J.

Greenhalgh

Zealley

I.A.

MR enterographic manifestations of small bowel Crohn disease

Radiographics 2010; 30:367–384.

11.

Sinha

Verma

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

AJR Am J Roentgenol 2011; 197:76–79.

12.

Steward

M.J.

Punwani

Proctor

Non-perforating small bowel Crohn's disease assessed by MRI enterography: derivation and histopathological validation of an MR-based activity index

Eur J Radiol 2012; 81:2080–2088.

13.

Ziech

M.L.

Bipat

Roelofs

J.J.

Retrospective comparison of magnetic resonance imaging features and histopathology in Crohn's disease patients

Eur J Radiol 2011; 80:299–305.

14.

Lee-Elliott

Ayer

Small bowel MRI imaging in the DGH: are you doing it yet?

Clin Radiol 2012; 67:605–612.

15.

Lawrance

I.C.

Welman

C.J.

Shipman

Correlation of MRI-determined small bowel Crohn's disease categories with medical response and surgical pathology

World J Gastroenterol 2009; 15:3367–3375.

16.

Van Assche

Dignass

Panes

The second European Evidence-based Consensus on the Diagnosis and Management of Crohn's Disease: definitions and diagnosis

J Crohns Colitis 2010; 4:7–27.