title: Dark-lumen magnetic resonance colonography in patients with suspected sigmoid diverticulitis: a feasibility study.
abstract: To assess dark-lumen magnetic resonance colonography (MRC) for the evaluation of patients with suspected sigmoid diverticulitis. Forty patients with suspected sigmoid diverticulitis underwent MRC within 72 h prior to conventional colonoscopy (CC). A three-dimensional T1-weighted volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination sequence was acquired after an aqueous enema and intravenous administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents. All MRC data were evaluated by two radiologists. Based on wall thickness and focal uptake of contrast material and pericolic reaction including mesenteric infiltration on T1-weighted sequence the sigmoid colon was assessed for the presence of diverticulitis. MRC classified 17 of the 40 patients as normal with regard to sigmoid diverticulitis. However, CC confirmed the presence of light inflammatory signs in four patients which were missed in MRC. MRC correctly identified wall thickness and contrast uptake of the sigmoid colon in the other 23 patients. In three of these patients false-positive findings were observed, and MRC classified the inflammation of the sigmoid colon as diverticulitis whereas CC and histopathology confirmed invasive carcinoma. MRC detected additionally relevant pathologies of the entire colon and could be performed in cases where CC was incomplete. MRC may be considered a promising alternative to CC for the detection of sigmoid diverticulitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany. Waleed.ajaj@uni-essen.de
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ajaj
authors.forename: Stefan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ruehm
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lauenstein
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goehde
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuehle
authors.forename: Christoph U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Herborn
authors.forename: Jost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langhorst
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zoepf
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerken
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goyen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*