MR enterography for assessment and management of small bowel Crohn disease

Brian C Allen; John R Leyendecker

doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2014.02.001

MR enterography for assessment and management of small bowel Crohn disease

Radiol Clin North Am. 2014 Jul;52(4):799-810. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2014.02.001. Epub 2014 Apr 1.

Authors

Brian C Allen¹, John R Leyendecker²

Affiliations

¹ Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, 3rd Floor MRI, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1088, USA. Electronic address: bcallen2@wakehealth.edu.
² Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, 3rd Floor MRI, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1088, USA.

PMID: 24889172
DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2014.02.001

Abstract

Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) utilization has increased for the evaluation of small bowel diseases over the last several years. In addition to performing similarly to computed tomography enterography (CTE) in the evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease, MRE lacks ionizing radiation, can image the small bowel dynamically, and provides excellent soft tissue contrast resolution. This article reviews imaging protocols for MRE, normal MR imaging appearance of small bowel, and the imaging findings of small bowel Crohn disease. The importance of imaging findings for directing management in patients with small bowel Crohn disease is emphasized throughout.

Keywords: Crohn; Enterography; Inflammatory bowel disease; Magnetic resonance.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Artifacts
Contrast Media
Crohn Disease / diagnosis*
Crohn Disease / pathology
Humans
Image Enhancement / methods
Intestine, Small*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*

Substances

Contrast Media