Gabriele Masselli MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Gianfranco Gualdi, Abstract Co-Author: 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

To evaluate the usefulness of MR Enteroclysis (MRE) in the diagnosis of small bowel disease.

60 patients (34Males; 26Females), who were suspected of having small bowel inflammatory disease (n=23), palpable abdominal mass (n=14), low grade small bowel obstruction (n=8), unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding (n=9), refractory celiac sprue (n = 6) underwent prospectively to MRE, performed on 1.5 T magnet by injection of 1,5-2 l of Polyethyleneglycol solution via a nasojejunal catheter. To monitor the filling process of the small bowel, a ssFSE sequence was applied every 7 seconds. MRE examination protocol included: FIESTA, ssFSE, obtained on coronal and axial plane and gadolinium enhanced fat suppressed 3D-GR sequences. MRE findings were analyzed by two radiologists working in consensus Findings were compared with the results of endoscopy, enteroscopy, videocapsule endoscopy, histopathologic analysis, or clinical follow-up.

MRE was well tolerated in all 60 patients. MRE allowed the the diagnosis of Crohn's disease (n=20), small-bowel masses (n = 16), small-bowel lymphoma complicating celiac disease (n = 2), and confirmed low-grade small-bowel obstruction (n = 10). Negative examination included 12 patients. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MRE were 98%, 94%, 96%, 93%, and 98%, respectively.

MRE is an accurate method for the depiction of small-bowel diseases in patients suspected of having small-bowel conditions.

Masselli, G, Gualdi, G, Polettini, E, Casciani, E, Lanciotti, S, Small Bowel Diseases: Prospective Evaluation of MR Enteroclysis.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4416767.html