MR ENTEROGRAPHY: AN EMERGENT TECHNIQUE FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF SMALL BOWEL LESIONS IN ONCOLOGICAL AND NON-ONCOLOGY DISEASES

Abstract

Small bowel is not easily accessed by endoscope and diagnosis of its pathology relies on clinical assessment and imaging. Traditional contrast studies have the disadvantage of not including the mural and extramural details. This is best seen with magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) which is rapidly replacing computed tomography enterography due to better soft tissue resolution and lack of ionizing radiation. Comprehensive MRE requires axial and coronal T1- and T2-WI, high-resolution diffusion-weighted images, fat-suppressed three-dimensional T1-W breath-hold gradient-echo images of the abdomen, and pelvis before and after intravenous gadolinium-based contrast material administration. MRE is the preferred imaging technique for small bowel pathology due to its ability to show mural and extramural details which allow differentiation in acute, active, and chronicity of changes. Being radiation free, there is no age limitation for its use.