Assessment of Imaging Features of Crohn’s Disease with MR Enterography
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Abstract
Background: To evaluate the frequency of pathological findings determined on magnetic resonance (MR) enterography (MRE) in
patients with Crohn’s Disease.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of the MRE images was made in 34 female and 41 male patients (mean age 41 years) with Crohn’s disease.
The prevalence of bowel wall (mural thickening, mural edema, mural fat deposits, mucosal enhancement, ulceration, cobblestone
appearance, pseudopolyps) and mesenteric fatty tissue alterations (fatty tissue proliferation, mesenteric hypervascularity, enlarged
lymph nodes, peri-enteric inflammation, reactive fluid), complications due to penetrating (fistula, sinus tract, abscess) and stenosing
processes (fibrotic and inflammatory stenosis, obstruction, dilatation), and involvement of the colon were determined.
Results: The most frequently observed changes in the bowel wall and mesenteric fatty tissue were mural thickening (98.7%) and
enlargement of mesenteric lymph nodes (76%), respectively. Stenosis was the most common complication (76%). The most frequently
seen pathology of the colon was ileocecal valve thickening and enhancement (74.7%).
Conclusion: MR enterography is a useful imaging modality for the evaluation of changes in both the mesenteric fatty tissue and the
bowel wall. As there is no use of ionizing radiation, MR enterography should be the preferred imaging modality during follow-up of
patients with Crohn’s disease.
patients with Crohn’s Disease.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of the MRE images was made in 34 female and 41 male patients (mean age 41 years) with Crohn’s disease.
The prevalence of bowel wall (mural thickening, mural edema, mural fat deposits, mucosal enhancement, ulceration, cobblestone
appearance, pseudopolyps) and mesenteric fatty tissue alterations (fatty tissue proliferation, mesenteric hypervascularity, enlarged
lymph nodes, peri-enteric inflammation, reactive fluid), complications due to penetrating (fistula, sinus tract, abscess) and stenosing
processes (fibrotic and inflammatory stenosis, obstruction, dilatation), and involvement of the colon were determined.
Results: The most frequently observed changes in the bowel wall and mesenteric fatty tissue were mural thickening (98.7%) and
enlargement of mesenteric lymph nodes (76%), respectively. Stenosis was the most common complication (76%). The most frequently
seen pathology of the colon was ileocecal valve thickening and enhancement (74.7%).
Conclusion: MR enterography is a useful imaging modality for the evaluation of changes in both the mesenteric fatty tissue and the
bowel wall. As there is no use of ionizing radiation, MR enterography should be the preferred imaging modality during follow-up of
patients with Crohn’s disease.