Gabriele Masselli MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Elisabetta Polettini MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Emanuele Casciani, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Silvia Lanciotti MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gianfranco Gualdi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of MR enteroclysis (MRE) in assessing the activity of Crohn's disease.

Thirty-eight patients with previously proven Crohn's disease but uncertain disease activity were prospectively examined using MRE, performed on 1.5 T magnet by injection of 1,5-2 l of Polyethyleneglycol solution via a nasojejunal catheter. MRE examination protocol included multiplanar FIESTA, ssFSE, and gadolinium enhanced FSPGR sequences. Two radiologists reached a consensus about the following imaging findings: bowel wall thickess, bowel wall signal and enhancement, mesenteric lymph nodes enhancement, perienteric changes and determined the absence or presence of active disease in each patient, that were scored using the Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI).

Basis on endoscopy (n=31) and surgery (n= 7), our gold standard, twenty-nine patients had inactive disease and eleven had active disease. On a per patient basis, MRE had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 83% for active disease and on a per segment basis a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 71%. The CDAI had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 37%. The product of wall layered enhancement and enhancement of lymph nodes ranks was the optimum combination for discriminating active disease (p<0.01).

MRE is an accurate tool in the assessment of the Crohn’s activity and our results showed a higher capacity of MRE compared with CDAI.

Masselli, G, Polettini, E, Casciani, E, Lanciotti, S, Gualdi, G, MR Enteroclysis Evaluation of the Activity of Crohn’s Disease.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4416677.html