Can We Detect Peritoneal Adhesions With MRI and CT Prior to Abdominal Surgery?

Abstract

This article is part 2 of our review assessing diagnostic modalities. In the first part, we analyzed the ultrasonography capabilities to detect abdominal adhesions. The second part assesses the effectiveness of MRI and CT.MRI and CT modalities are much less commonly used in detecting adhesions than ultrasonography. MRI has approximately the same prognostic capabilities as ultrasonography in detecting adhesions between the viscera and the abdominal wall, and it additionally detects adhesions between the abdominal organs. Yet, MRI is significantly more time-consuming and highly dependent on the radiologist experience. Like ultrasonography, MRI determines the extent of adhesions but not the type.Native CT does not visualize abdominal adhesions, though its findings in artificial pneumoperitoneum are superior in diagnostic value to those of ultrasonography and MRI, so this modality should be considered.

Keywords

• abdominal adhesions
• peritoneal adhesions
• magnetic resonance imaging
• computed tomography