The imaging of coeliac disease and its complications

Celiac Disease and Intussusception: A Common Association in Children

OBJECTIVES

In young childhood, intestinal intussusception (IS) is the most common cause of small bowel obstruction. A lead point such as Meckel diverticulum, polyps, tumors, enlarged lymph nodes, cystic fibrosis, and Schoenlein-Henoch purpura are recognized causes. Association between celiac disease (CD) and IS has been well recognized in adults but rarely in children. Data on causes and outcome of intussusception among Saudi children are lacking in the literature. Our objectives were to characterize the pattern of IS among Saudi children and investigate the frequency, clinical presentation, and outcome of intussusception among children with CD.

METHODS

We searched the hospital's picture archiving and communications system for abdominal imaging studies (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scan, and barium contrast studies), performed between 2008 and 2019, using "intussusception" as a search key word. The hospital medical records of the identified cases of intussusception (aged 0-14 years) were then retrospectively reviewed to collect demographic, clinical, laboratory and imaging findings, management, and outcome.

RESULTS

During the study period, 57 cases were identified as confirmed IS (31 boys, median age 1.95 years, range 0.33-11 years). Abdominal ultrasound was the diagnostic imaging study in 93%. An underlying cause (secondary IS) could be identified in 19 (33.3%) cases: CD in 6, malignancy and Henoch-Schoenlein purpura, 5 each, and Meckel diverticulum in 3; the remaining 38 (66.6%) cases of IS were idiopathic (primary IS). The presence of hypoalbuminemia and abdominal distension were significantly associated with secondary IS as compared with primary IS ( P < 0.001, P = 0.006, respectively). All of the 6 cases of IS associated with CD resolved spontaneously, but 3 were recurrent.

CONCLUSIONS

Secondary causes contributed to a large proportion of IS in our study cohort (33%) as compared with 5% to 10% in the literature. Celiac disease is an underrecognized cause of IS among children. A child with IS and hypoalbuminemia, anemia, or chronic diarrhea needs to be investigated for CD to avoid unnecessary surgery.

CT and MR Enterography in the Evaluation of Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a common inflammatory disease of the small bowel that induces mucosal intestinal lesions. The disease is mediated by an immune response and triggered by the ingestion of gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. Gluten contains gliadin, a component found mostly in wheat, barley, and rye. This process leads to gastrointestinal malabsorption with symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and distention. It has a prevalence of 1%-2% in the general adult population, who present with symptoms at any age, but is more frequently found in adult women in the 3rd or 4th decade of life. Recognition of the disease has increased, but it remains a challenge to diagnose. CT and MR enterography are noninvasive studies used for evaluation of small bowel neoplasms and inflammatory small bowel pathologic conditions such as celiac disease. The authors review the spectrum of intestinal and extraintestinal findings of celiac disease at CT and MR enterography, as well as its complications, and the importance of recognizing certain imaging features that help in the diagnosis of celiac disease. More common and specific findings of celiac disease such as inversion of the jejunoileal fold pattern and mesenteric lymphadenopathy are reviewed. More uncommon entities that are more frequently associated with refractory or untreated celiac disease, such as ulcerative jejunoileitis, cavitary mesenteric lymph node syndrome, and malignancies including small bowel adenocarcinoma and lymphoma, are described. ©RSNA, 2024 Test Your Knowledge questions for this article are available in the supplemental material. The slide presentation from the RSNA Annual Meeting is available for this article.

Non-neoplastic conditions mimicking peritoneal carcinomatosis at CT imaging

The general appearance of peritoneal carcinomatosis at abdominal CT and other cross-sectional imaging modalities consists of varying amounts of peritoneal-based soft tissue implants (mass-forming or infiltrative), peritoneal fluid, and occasionally calcification. However, a wide variety of common and uncommon neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions can closely mimic peritoneal carcinomatosis at imaging. Neoplastic mimics of peritoneal carcinomatosis include primary peritoneal and sub peritoneal tumors, as well as peritoneal lymphomatosis and sarcomatosis.Broad categories of non-neoplastic mimics of peritoneal carcinomatosis include tumor-like conditions, systemic processes, atypical infections, and fat-based conditions. For many entities, suggestive or specific patient information and/or CT imaging findings exist that may allow the radiologist to narrow the differential diagnosis. In this article, we review the salient clinical and cross-sectional imaging features of non-neoplastic mimics of peritoneal carcinomatosis and malignancy, with emphasis on the CT findings and the additional clues that may suggest the correct benign diagnosis.

Computed Tomography Enterography

Computed tomography (CT) enterography is a noninvasive imaging modality with superb spatial and temporal resolution, specifically tailored to evaluate the small bowel. It has several advantages over other radiologic and optical imaging modalities, all of which serve as complementary investigations to one another. This article describes CTE technique, including dose reduction techniques, special considerations for the pediatric population, common technical and interpretive pitfalls, and reviews some of the more common small bowel entities seen with CTE.

Cross-sectional imaging in refractory celiac disease

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to identify unique imaging findings of refractory celiac disease (RCD) including Type I RCD, Type II RCD versus healed celiac disease (CD).

METHODS

A retrospective study of patients with known CD and refractory symptoms with cross-sectional imaging was performed. We included patients who underwent T cell receptor rearrangement or T-cell immunophenotyping studies on small bowel (SB) biopsies to classify patients into: healed CD, Type I RCD, or Type II RCD. GI radiologists performed a blinded review of the imaging studies.

RESULTS

One-hundred eighteen patients (32 healed; 67 Type I RCD; 19 Type II RCD) were included (mean age 53 ± 6 years; 62% female). The presence of any fold pattern abnormality was more likely to be found in Type II and Type I RCD than healed CD (53% vs. 43% vs.16%; p = 0.009). Type II RCD patients were more likely than Type I RCD and healed CD to have imaging findings of ulcerative jejunitis (26% vs. 6% vs. 3%; p = 0.009), SB wall thickening (37% vs. 16% vs. 0%; p = 0.002) and SB dilation (26% vs. 7% vs. 6%; p = 0.04). Type II RCD demonstrated non-significant trends for decreased number of jejunal folds only, SB mass, mesenteric lymphadenopathy, localized peri-mural edema, and intramural duodenal edema.

CONCLUSIONS

Fold pattern abnormalities, ulcerative jejunitis, SB wall thickening, and SB dilation are more likely to be identified in cross-sectional imaging of RCD than healed CD. SB dilatation and ulcerative jejunitis are more likely to be found in Type II than Type I RCD.

Beyond moulage sign and TTG levels: the role of cross-sectional imaging in celiac sprue

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and destruction in the small intestine of genetically susceptible individuals following ingestion of gluten. Awareness of the disease has increased; however, it remains a challenge to diagnose. This review summarizes the intestinal and extraintestinal cross-sectional imaging findings of celiac disease. Small intestine fold abnormalities are the most specific imaging findings for celiac disease, whereas most other imaging findings reflect a more generalized pattern seen with malabsorptive processes. Familiarity with the imaging pattern may allow the radiologist to suggest the diagnosis in patients with atypical presentations in whom it is not clinically suspected. Earlier detection allows earlier treatment initiation and may prevent significant morbidity and mortality that can occur with delayed diagnosis. Refractory celiac disease carries the greatest risk of mortality due to associated complications, including cavitating mesenteric lymph node syndrome, ulcerative jejunoileitis, enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma, and adenocarcinoma, all of which are described and illustrated. Radiologic and endoscopic investigations are complimentary modalities in the setting of complicated celiac disease.

Small bowel villous atrophy: celiac disease and beyond

Small bowel villous atrophy can represent a diagnostic challenge for gastroenterologists and pathologists. In Western countries small bowel atrophy and mild non-atrophic alterations are frequently caused by celiac disease. However, other pathology can mimic celiac disease microscopically, widening the differential diagnosis. The several novelties on this topic and the introduction of the device-assisted enteroscopy in the diagnostic flowchart make an update of the literature necessary. Areas covered: In this review, a description of the different clinical scenarios when facing with small bowel mucosal damage, particularly small bowel atrophy, is described. The published literature on this subject has been summarized and reviewed. Expert commentary: When an intestinal mucosal alteration is histologically demonstrated, the pathology report forms part of a more complex workup including serological data, clinical presentation and clinical history. A multidisciplinary team, including pathologists and enteroscopy-devoted endoscopists, is frequently required to manage patients with small bowel alterations, especially in cases of severe malabsorption syndrome.

Collagenous sprue cross-sectional imaging: a comparative blinded study

PURPOSE

Collagenous sprue (CS) is a rare enteropathy characterized by villous atrophy and a thickened subepithelial collagen band. The aim of this study is to describe the cross-sectional imaging findings of CS.

METHODS

A case-control, retrospective study with cases of all CS patients from January 2000 to 2015 was performed. Inclusion criteria were (1) Histopathologic diagnosis and (2) Imaging with computed tomography abdomen/pelvis (CT A/P), CT enterography (CTE), or magnetic resonance enterography within 6 months of small bowel (SB) biopsy. Control subjects were irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients who underwent CTE. Imaging studies were examined by two GI radiologists, blinded to patient data.

RESULTS

108 patients (54 CS; 54 IBS) were included. Mean age was 56.7 ± 16.5 years, and 68% were female (72% in CS group vs. 63% in IBS group; p = 0.3). CS patients were significantly older (67 ± 12 vs. 47 ± 15 year; p < 0.001) and more likely to be on angiotensin receptor blockers (41% vs. 6%; p < 0.001) as compared to the IBS group. Compared to IBS, CS patients were more likely to have mesenteric lymph node (LN) prominence (56% vs. 15%; p < 0.001), jejunoileal fold pattern reversal (46% vs. 6%; p < 0.001), SB dilation (28% vs. 0%; p < 0.001), SB conformational change (28% vs. 6%; p = 0.002), SB wall thickening (13% vs. 2%; p = 0.03), and ulcerative jejunoileitis (4% vs. 0%; p = 0.01). Radiologists suspected malabsorption in 72% in the CS group and 2% in the IBS group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Imaging findings suggestive of mucosal malabsorption are commonly demonstrated in CS.

Small bowel imaging in celiac disease

BACKGROUND

Modern small bowel imaging techniques allow detailed depiction of small-intestinal abnormalities. The role of these techniques in the investigation of celiac disease is increasing, especially in patients with suspected complicated celiac disease.

KEY MESSAGES

In general, there is no need for radiological small bowel imaging in uncomplicated celiac disease. It is however important that clinicians and radiologists are aware of certain specific radiological findings that may suggest celiac disease, especially since celiac disease is often not considered in adult patients, and small bowel radiology may be performed before specific tests for celiac disease. Radiological abnormalities can be observed with both conventional small bowel radiology studies, like small bowel follow-through or double-contrast small bowel enteroclysis, and newer modalities, like computed tomography or magnetic resonance enterography or enteroclysis. These signs include a decreased number of jejunal folds, an increased number of ileal folds, small bowel dilatation, wall thickening and intussusception. Extraintestinal abnormalities include mesenteric lymphadenopathy, vascular changes and splenic atrophy. Abnormalities congruent with refractory celiac disease type II include a severe decrease in jejunal folds, infiltration of the mesenteric fat and thickening of the small bowel wall. Additionally, a severely decreased splenic volume may indicate complicated celiac disease. Malignant complications of celiac disease, such as enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma and small-intestinal adenocarcinoma, can be reliably investigated with cross-sectional enteroclysis techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

Small bowel imaging and especially cross-sectional enteroclysis techniques are important extensions to the diagnostic workup of clinicians involved in the care of patients with celiac disease, especially those with suspected complicated disease.

Transient small bowel intussusception in adults: an overlooked feature of coeliac disease

Coeliac disease is the commonest immunological gastrointestinal disorder in the Western world. The symptoms of coeliac disease in adults are often non-specific, and a high index of suspicion may be required for timely diagnosis. We describe the case of a 46-year-old woman, with known dilated cardiomyopathy and pulmonary hypertension, who presented with non-specific abdominal symptoms, not initially attributed to gastrointestinal disease. Radiological investigations demonstrated transient small bowel intussusception without other abnormality, leading to the suggestion of coeliac disease as a cause, which was subsequently confirmed as the diagnosis.

Contribuição da ultrassonografia abdominal para o diagnóstico da doença celíaca em crianças e adolescentes

Objetivos: comparar as características clínicas e parâmetros ultrassonográficos em um grupo de crianças e adolescentes, recentemente diagnosticados como portadores de doença celíaca, com um grupo controle. Métodos: estudo clínico conduzido com amostra de 20 pacientes recentemente diagnosticados com doença celíaca e 35 pacientes assintomáticos sem doença celíaca. Ultrassonografias abdominais foram realizadas em todos os pacientes. Os casos foram submetidos às ultrassonografias durante a fase de investigação diagnóstica, ainda consumindo glúten. Foram avaliados parâmetros ultrassonográficos e ao Doppler, relacionados às características das alças intestinais, linfonodomegalias e alterações no fluxo sanguíneo esplâncnico. As diferenças de proporções entre os grupos foram avaliadas pelos testes do quiquadrado e exato de Fisher e a diferença de médias pelo teste t de Student. Resultados: as principais manifestações clínicas relacionadas à doença celíaca foram as digestivas, como diarréia (12/20), dor abdominal (14/20) e distensão abdominal (15/20). Pacientes com doença celíaca apresentaram maior diâmetro transverso das alças do delgado (p=0,001), maior peristaltismo intestinal (p=0,002), aumento do conteúdo líquido intestinal (p=0,02), e maior espessura parietal (p<0,001). Conclusões: alterações sugestivas de má digestão/absorção (aumento do diâmetro transverso das alças do intestino delgado, maior peristaltismo intestinal, aumento do conteúdo líquido) e o espessamento da parede intestinal em pacientes com queixas digestivas devem alertar o clínico para investigar a doença celíaca.

Comparison of MR enteroclysis with video capsule endoscopy in the investigation of small-intestinal disease

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MR enteroclysis and to compare it to video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in the analysis of suspected small-bowel disease.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 77 patients who underwent both MR enteroclysis and VCE and compared the findings of these studies with the findings of enteroscopy, surgery, or with the results of clinical follow-up lasting ≥2 years.

Results

Findings included malignant neoplasms (n = 13), benign neoplasms (n = 10), refractory celiac disease (n = 4), Crohn’s disease (n = 2) and miscellaneous conditions (n = 10). Specificity of MR enteroclysis was higher than that of VCE (0.97 vs. 0.84, P = 0.047), whereas sensitivity was similar (0.79 vs. 0.74, P = 0.591). In 2/32 (6.3%) patients with both negative VCE and negative MR enteroclysis a positive diagnosis was established, compared to 5/11 (45.5%) patients in whom VCE was positive and MR enteroclysis was negative (likelihood ratio 8.1; P = 0.004), 9/11 (81.8%) patients in whom MR enteroclysis was positive and VCE was negative (likelihood ratio 23.5; P < 0.0001), and all 23 patients in whom both VCE and MR enteroclysis showed abnormalities (likelihood ratio 60.8; P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

VCE and MR enteroclysis are complementary modalities. In our study-population, MR enteroclysis was more specific than VCE, while both produced the same sensitivity.

Intussusception in adults: what radiologists should know

Adult intussusception (AI) is a rare entity with an organic lesion within the intussusception in 70-90% of the cases. Intussusception is classified according to location, etiology, and to the presence or not of a lead point. We illustrate several causes of AI with a variety of radiological findings on plain film, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and endoscopy seen at our institution. Imaging plays a major role in their diagnosis and in determining the appropriate treatment.

Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma in a Patient with Coeliac Disease: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder which leads to chronic inflammation of the gut. Furthermore, CD is associated with upper gastrointestinal malignancies, particularly lymphoma of the small intestine. Besides lymphoma, an increased frequency of associated small bowel carcinoma has been described. Here we report the case of a 70-year-old male suffering from CD who was treated with a gluten-free diet presenting with complaints of nausea, vomiting and weight loss of about 8 kg in two months. He underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which identified distention of the stomach and duodenum and in the pars horizontalis a distinct obstruction was suggestive. However, histopathological examination showed a normal mucosal membrane. Additionally, a computed tomography scan of the abdomen was performed which showed an expanded stomach and duodenum up to the ligament of Treitz. During an explorative laparotomy a small tumor was palpated near the ligament of Treitz. Subsequently, a duodenal segment resection was performed. After surgery, the patient recovered well and left our hospital in good condition.

Calcified cavitating mesenteric lymph node syndrome: case presentation and literature review

Cavitating mesenteric lymph node syndrome (CMLNS) is a rare complication of celiac disease. Globally, only 36 cases of CMLNS have been reported to date. The present article reports an incidence of its unique pathology and possible complications of celiac disease, followed by a review of the syndrome. A case involving a 51-year-old man with celiac disease who was referred to hospital because of a nontender abdominal mass is described. Plain film x-ray of the abdomen revealed fine curvilinear calcifications in the left lower quadrant. A complex, cystic-appearing, lobulated mass with somewhat echogenic walls most consistent with calcifications was revealed on subsequent ultrasound (US) imaging. Colour Doppler imaging showed no evidence of vascularity within the lesion. Computed tomography (CT) imaging showed a thin rim of calcification in the walls of multiple cystic components. Enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a mixed solid and cystic multiloculated mass, with fat-fluid layers originating from the root of the small bowel mesentery. A CT-guided biopsy was performed. The fine-needle aspirate revealed calcified matter with no associated cellular material. No malignant cells were seen; CMLNS was established as the diagnosis. To the authors' knowledge, there are no previous reports in the literature describing the finding of rim calcification on US or MR imaging in the setting of CMLNS. CMLNS is an important diagnosis to consider, particularly in patients with a history of celiac disease. The finding of rim calcification on US in the setting of cavitating mesenteric adenopathy should prompt further diagnostic imaging studies such as CT or MR imaging. These may lead to additional pathology studies such as a CT-guided biopsy to further characterize the lesion at the cellular level, to investigate potential malignancy and to further guide follow-up and patient management.

[Primary small bowel neoplasms as a complication of celiac disease]

Celiac disease is produced by gluten intake in genetically susceptible children and adults and is the most common severe food intolerance in western countries. Eliminating gluten from the diet is essential in these patients, since most of the complications that can occur are more frequent if there is lack of treatment adherence. The most serious complication in these patients is the development of neoplasms, the most frequent being enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma; however, an increase in the incidence of small bowel adenocarcinoma has also been described. We present two cases of small bowel carcinoma in patients with celiac disease, which were diagnosed at the onset of the disease.