We have located links that may give you full text access.
MR imaging evaluation of the activity of Crohn's disease.
AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology 2001 December
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of MR imaging in assessing the activity of Crohn's disease.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty symptomatic patients with Crohn's disease but uncertain disease activity were prospectively examined using MR imaging. Twenty-nine patients were scored using the Crohn's disease activity index. Six hundred milliliters of water orally and 1 mg of glucagon intramuscularly were given before imaging. Breath-hold images were obtained using T2-weighted turbo spin-echo, T1-weighted fast low-angle shot, and fat-suppressed gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted fast low-angle shot sequences. Images were assessed by two radiologists who were unaware of the patient's symptoms, clinical scoring, and other imaging tests, and who reached a consensus about the imaging findings (bowel wall thickening, bowel wall enhancement, and perienteric changes) and determined the absence or presence of active disease in each patient. MR imaging findings were correlated with endoscopy and surgery.
RESULTS: Twenty-three patients had active disease and seven patients had inactive disease. One hundred twenty-four of a total of 168 bowel segments were examined with both MR imaging and endoscopy or surgery. On a per patient basis, MR imaging had an overall sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 71% for active disease. The Crohn's disease activity index had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 28%. On a per segment basis, MR imaging had a sensitivity of 59% and a specificity of 93%. Bowel wall thickening of greater than 4 mm, bowel wall enhancement (ratio of signal intensity of abnormal to normal bowel > 1.3:1), and increased mesenteric vascularity were useful in identifying active disease. A layered enhancement pattern after the IV administration of gadolinium was highly specific for active inflammation.
CONCLUSION: MR imaging is useful in assessing the activity of Crohn's disease and may be helpful when clinical scoring is equivocal.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty symptomatic patients with Crohn's disease but uncertain disease activity were prospectively examined using MR imaging. Twenty-nine patients were scored using the Crohn's disease activity index. Six hundred milliliters of water orally and 1 mg of glucagon intramuscularly were given before imaging. Breath-hold images were obtained using T2-weighted turbo spin-echo, T1-weighted fast low-angle shot, and fat-suppressed gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted fast low-angle shot sequences. Images were assessed by two radiologists who were unaware of the patient's symptoms, clinical scoring, and other imaging tests, and who reached a consensus about the imaging findings (bowel wall thickening, bowel wall enhancement, and perienteric changes) and determined the absence or presence of active disease in each patient. MR imaging findings were correlated with endoscopy and surgery.
RESULTS: Twenty-three patients had active disease and seven patients had inactive disease. One hundred twenty-four of a total of 168 bowel segments were examined with both MR imaging and endoscopy or surgery. On a per patient basis, MR imaging had an overall sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 71% for active disease. The Crohn's disease activity index had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 28%. On a per segment basis, MR imaging had a sensitivity of 59% and a specificity of 93%. Bowel wall thickening of greater than 4 mm, bowel wall enhancement (ratio of signal intensity of abnormal to normal bowel > 1.3:1), and increased mesenteric vascularity were useful in identifying active disease. A layered enhancement pattern after the IV administration of gadolinium was highly specific for active inflammation.
CONCLUSION: MR imaging is useful in assessing the activity of Crohn's disease and may be helpful when clinical scoring is equivocal.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Proximal versus distal diuretics in congestive heart failure.Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation 2024 Februrary 30
World Health Organization and International Consensus Classification of eosinophilic disorders: 2024 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management.American Journal of Hematology 2024 March 30
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment.Clinical Research in Cardiology : Official Journal of the German Cardiac Society 2024 April 12
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices 
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app