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Inflammatory Bowel Disease

MR enterography is valuable for determining extent of inflamed bowel, discriminating between active inflammation and chronic fibrosing disease, detecting fistulae, and detecting strictures. Additionally, MRI can provide excellent delineation of the course of perianal fistulas, including relationships to sphincters and levators.

Before undergoing MRI to evaluate the bowel, one drinks a little over one quart of a fluid that helps to distend the bowel, and an intravenous catheter is placed so that intravenous contrast can be administered.

Sample Epic Order

Download and Print A Request

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PDF icon Order for abdomen/pelvis MRI to assess disease activity.1.08 MB
PDF icon Order for abdomen/pelvis MRI to assess disease activity and characterize perianal fistula.1.08 MB

How to place an MRI request on Epic

Examples (click on images)

A patient with Crohns disease, now with bloating. A loop with fixed narrowing shows early and persistent enhancement, indicative of active inflammation.A patient with Crohns disease, now with bloating. A loop with fixed narrowing shows early and persistent enhancement, indicative of active inflammation.A patient with Crohns disease, now with bloating. A loop with fixed narrowing shows early and persistent enhancement, indicative of active inflammation.Crohns disease with a fistula to the abdominal wall. A small amount of contrast was injected during the MRI outlining the tract to colon.

References

  1. Tonolini M, Campari A, Bianco R. Ileal pouch and related complications: spectrum of imaging findings with emphasis on MRI. Abdom Imaging 2011; 36:698-706. PubMed link
  2. Sinha R, Verma R, Verma S, Rajesh A. MR enterography of Crohn disease: part 2, imaging and pathologic findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2011; 197:80-85. PubMed link
  3. Sinha R, Verma R, Verma S, Rajesh A. MR enterography of Crohn disease: part 1, rationale, technique, and pitfalls. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2011; 197:76-79. PubMed link
  4. Oto A, Kayhan A, Williams JT, et al. Active Crohn's disease in the small bowel: evaluation by diffusion weighted imaging and quantitative dynamic contrast enhanced MR imaging. J Magn Reson Imaging 2011; 33:615-624. PubMed link
  5. Gee MS, Harisinghani MG. MRI in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. J Magn Reson Imaging 2011; 33:527-534. PubMed link
  6. Giusti S, Faggioni L, Neri E, et al. Dynamic MRI of the small bowel: usefulness of quantitative contrast-enhancement parameters and time-signal intensity curves for differentiating between active and inactive Crohn's disease. Abdom Imaging 2010; 35:646-653. PubMed link
  7. Lin MF, Narra V. Developing role of magnetic resonance imaging in Crohn's disease. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2008; 24:135-140. PubMed link
  8. Patak MA, von Weymarn C, Froehlich JM. Small bowel MR imaging: 1.5T versus 3T. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 2007; 15:383-393, vii. PubMed link
  9. Horsthuis K, Lavini Mphil C, Stoker J. MRI in Crohn's disease. J Magn Reson Imaging 2005; 22:1-12. PubMed link