Exploration de l’intestin grêle par les techniques d’imagerie en coupes

[Trans-vesical incarceration of a small bowel loop after pelvic trauma]

The authors report the case of a patient presenting with small bowel obstruction after a pelvic trauma with associated bladder injury. While urinary bladder and bowel injuries are frequent following this type of trauma, their association is rare. Small bowel obstruction secondary to trans-vesical incarceration of a small bowel loop at the fracture site is exceptional. CT is invaluable for diagnosis.

[CT enteroclysis: a pictorial essay]

The objective of the CT-enteroclysis is to distend the entire small intestine equally and sufficiently using a nasojejunal probe and an enteroclysis catheter for administration of a neutral opacifying agent. Today this is the best radiological method available to explore the small intestine because of its good spatial resolution and the rapidity of the exam. It is a high-performance exam when searching for transmural and extramural pathologies, in particular small tumoral lesions. It remains less effective in the exploration of anomalies of the lumen's mucosal lining, contrary to videocapsule endoscopy and the double-balloon enteroscope. It has been recognized that the CT-enteroclysis is a high-performance examination that should replace the small-bowel follow-through exam. However, there are undeniable disadvantages: higher does of radiation, patient discomfort during placement of the enteroclysis catheter, false-positive results, long interpretation time, and the impossibility of exploring the endoluminal aspect of the intestinal mucosal lining. All radiologists should therefore become familiar with the problems involved with this exam and its signs and patterns, which are illustrated in this pictorial review.

Magnetic resonance imaging in Crohn's disease

AIM

To evaluate the value of gadolinium enhanced MRI with oral opacification using a 5% mannitol solution (CE-Mannitol-MRI) to reveal bowel inflammation in pediatric patients with known or suspected Crohn's disease (CD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty-two consecutive children (median age 13.9 years) with known or suspected CD underwent ileocolonoscopy with biopsy, ultrasonography and CE-Mannitol-MRI. CD activity was measured with the Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI). Image quality, wall thickness, bowel wall enhancement and complications identified on CE-Mannitol-MRI were evaluated by two blinded radiologists.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of CE-Mannitol-MRI for the diagnosis of CD were 83% and 100%, respectively. Bowel wall enhancement was higher in the group of patients with abnormal small bowel loops versus control group (P = 0.001). In patients with known CD, there was a positive correlation between wall thickness and PCDAI (P = 0.003). However, no significant correlation was demonstrated between parietal contrast enhancement and PCDAI (P = 0.497). CE-Mannitol-MRI enabled identification of complications in 18 patients (9 fistulae, 8 strictures and 1 intussusception).

CONCLUSION

In pediatric patients with CD, CE-Mannitol-MRI contributes significantly to the identification of disease extension, severity and intestinal complications with adequate diagnostic accuracy. This technique could also be useful as the first line diagnostic exploration in young patients with suspected CD.