MR imaging of ulcerative colitis

Abstract

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to study 16 resected rectosigmoid specimens of patients treated with total colectomy for severe ulcerative colitis (UC). Six normal colon specimens were also studied as a control group. Moreover, a parallel study of the pelvis of 24 patients with a proven diagnosis of UC was performed with the same MR system. Both in vitro and in vivo MRI findings [thickening and signal intensity (SI)] of the mural layers were qualitatively evaluated by two radiologists and compared with gross and microscopic aspects. In vitro results showed that MRI was able to identify all layers of the colonic wall. In particular in UC specimens, MRI identified thickening and the peculiar abnormal hyperintensity of the mucosal and submucosal layers on spin-echo (SE) T1-weighted images. In vivo results confirmed the high-signal intensity of the mucosal and submucosal layers. These findings were not observed in the control group in which the superficial layers appeared low in intensity on SE T1 images. Our preliminary experience suggests that MRI should be considered a new imaging modality for detecting UC colonic wall changes.

Clinical Relevance of Transabdominal Ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease of the Terminal Ileum and Large Bowel

“…10,38,40,47 Data obtained with our US activity index are in accordance with previous studies. 14,15,48,49 Low contrast enhancement of the submucosa in UC and transmural enhancement in CD was observed with fat‐suppressed MRI, and correlated with submucosal sparing in histologic specimens of UC. 9 In our study, we could often not differentiate between UC and CD on the basis of MRI findings.…”

Magnetic resonance imaging of inflammatory bowel disease: Evaluation in a rabbit model

“…Early clinical experience suggests, however, that the MR signs of inflammatory bowel disease may have a variable correlation with other estimates of inflammatory activity (1, 2). Because inflammatory bowel disease commonly improves with medical treatment alone, and endoscopic diagnosis may reveal only limited insights into the extent of inflammatory disease, clinical studies only seldom allow for a complete comparison of imaging features with histopathologic analysis (3).…”

Assessment of disease activity and extent by magnetic resonance imaging in ulcerative colitis

“…Our MRI findings in active ulcerative colitis were in agreement with those of earlier reports. 1–3 However, no earlier reports have shown loss of haustral markings in MRI. The present study showed that loss of haustral markings was a prominent finding in MRI of active ulcerative colitis and was well demonstrated in a coronal section.…”

“…Recent studies have shown that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful in determining the severity and extent of inflammatory bowel disease and in differentiating ulcerative colitis from Crohn’s disease. 1–5 We have previously shown the characteristic findings of MRI in active ulcerative colitis in children. 6…”