Magnetic resonance enterography in Crohn's disease: a guide to common imaging manifestations for the IBD physician

Abstract

Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) frequently require cross-sectional imaging. Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) is an accurate tool for assessment of bowel disease and of various complications of CD. The lack of non-ionizing radiation exposure is an important advantage of this imaging modality. Familiarity with common and pathognomonic imaging features of CD is essential for every clinician that is involved in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients' care. This review is aimed to describe the indications for performing MRE in CD, essentials of MRE techniques and typical radiological findings in patients with CD to aid the IBD doctor in daily practice.

Keywords: Abscess; CD; CT; CT enterography; CTE; Crohn's disease; Fistulae; IBD; MRE; MRI; Pelvic MRI; Strictures; T1/T2 weighted; T1/T2-w; computer tomography; inflammatory bowel disease; magnetic resonance enterography; magnetic resonance imaging.