MRI is able to detect pathologic bowel segments in CD, as it allows the measurement of significant variations in wall thickness and contrast enhancement on changing from the active phase of the disease to remission.

According to the Cambridge and Marseilles symposia, morphologic and functional recovery from acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) occurs if the initial cause and complications are eradicated. Nevertheless, in recent years there has been controversy over this topic, and varying results have been reported. These differing results may be due to different diagnostic methods, number of patients studied with regard to etiologic factors, severity of the disease, and differences in the tests used. A total of 63 ABP patients [17 male (27%), 46 female (73%); 45 mild, 18 severe] were prospectively studied. All patients underwent cholecystectomy. No patient in this series underwent necrosectomy or pancreatectomy. During the acute phase the severity of the disease was assessed following the Atlanta criteria, and the occurrence and rate of necrosis were determined by dynamic computed tomography. Exocrine and endocrine pancreatic functions were assessed at 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year after the ABP episode by means of various pancreatic function tests. We evaluated the occurrence of pancreatic failure following ABP and if this deficiency was associated with the severity of the episode. According to the classic symposia criteria, the study showed no deficit in exocrine or endocrine pancreatic function. No statistically significant differences were found when the pancreatic function and severity of the process were assessed.

Gadodiamide-enhanced MR angiography performed with single and triple doses is safe and effective for assessing major abdominal arterial stenoses. Although high agreement between MR angiography and DSA was achieved with both doses, triple-dose MR angiography was superior in the evaluations of image quality, degree of arterial stenoses, and confidence in diagnosis.

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Six cases of retroaortic left renal vein have been studied, two in corpses and four by means of Computed Tomography. Any previous pathology has been rejected. The total number of dissected specimens was 116, whereas the patients with non-pathological retroperitoneum studied by CT numbered 170. In our six cases, the left renal vein formed a single trunk of considerable size, retroaortic position and directed obliquely towards the inferior vena cava.