Radiation Exposure from Abdominal Imaging Studies in Patients with Intestinal Behçet Disease

Abstract

Background/AimsRecently, several studies have revealed that diagnostic imaging can result in exposure to harmful levels of ionizing radiation in inflammatory bowel disease patients. However, the extent of radiation exposure in intestinal Behcet disease (BD) patients has not been documented. The aim of this study was to estimate the radiation exposure from abdominal imaging studies in intestinal BD patients.MethodsPatients with a diagnosis of intestinal BD established between January 1990 and March 2012 were investigated at a single tertiary academic medical center. The cumulative effective dose (CED) was calculated retrospectively from standard tables and by counting the number of abdominal imaging studies performed. High exposure was defined as CED >50 mSv.ResultsIn total, 270 patients were included in the study. The mean CED was 41.3 mSv, and 28.1% of patients were exposed to high levels of radiation. Computed tomography (CT) accounted for 81.7% of the total effective dose. In multivariate analyses, predictors of high radiation exposure were azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine use, surgery, and hospitalization.ConclusionsApproximately a quarter of intestinal BD patients were exposed to harmful levels of diagnostic radiation, mainly from CT examination. Clinicians should reduce the number of unnecessary CT examinations and consider low-dose CT profiles or alternative modalities such as magnetic resonance enterography.

Magnetic Resonance Enterography Findings of Intestinal Behçet Disease in a Child

“…Several studies have recently demonstrated that patients with intestinal BD are exposed to high levels of radiation owing to an excessive use of abdominal CT scans [1]. …”

“…Imaging of intestinal BD has been hindered for many years by the inherent limitations of the radiological techniques used to study the small bowel. In fact, only wireless capsule endoscopy and CT have been able to adequately image the gastrointestinal involvement of BD up to now [ 1 , 2 ]. MR-Enterography (MRE) is a relatively new imaging technique, which has already demonstrated a good diagnostic value for small bowel pathology, particularly in CD.…”

“…MR-Enterography (MRE) is a relatively new imaging technique, which has already demonstrated a good diagnostic value for small bowel pathology, particularly in CD. However, no data has ever been reported regarding the usefulness of MRE in patients with intestinal BD [ 1 ].…”

Overlooked Management and Risk Factors for Anemia in Patients with Intestinal Behçet’s Disease in Actual Clinical Practice

“… 1 Because GI involvement can cause severe morbidity and mortality, BD is designated “intestinal BD” if GI symptoms predominate and typical ulcerative GI lesions are objectively documented. 2 – 4 The frequency of GI involvement ranges from 3% to 50% and varies depending on geographic location. 5 , 6 The most frequently affected site is the ileocecal region, which presents with symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bleeding.…”

Does Radiation Exposure from Abdominal Computed Tomography Increase Cancer Risk in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Behçet Disease?

“…The first study to elucidate the cumulative radiation dose in patients with Behçet disease showed that a substantial proportion of intestinal Behçet disease patients were exposed to high doses of ionizing radiation from diagnostic tests, contrary to expectations 10. Over a mean follow-up of 7.5 years, 28.1% of intestinal Behçet disease patients received cumulative doses exceeding 50 mSv, with the mean dose being 41.3 mSv.…”