Diagnostic value of CT enteroclysis compared with conventional enteroclysis in patients with Crohn's disease.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to assess the diagnostic value of CT enteroclysis compared with conventional enteroclysis in patients with Crohn's disease.


METHODS
Fifty consecutive patients (26 women, 24 men; mean age, 36.3 years; age range, 18-52 years) with histologically proven Crohn's disease underwent CT enteroclysis and conventional enteroclysis (median time interval, 21.7 days) during a symptomatic stage of their disease. Both techniques were compared with regard to diagnostic yield in assessing the presence and extent of disease. Imaging findings were compared with surgery, follow-up examinations, or both.


RESULTS
CT enteroclysis and conventional enteroclysis were successfully performed in all 50 patients. Crohn's disease-associated radiographic changes were found in 44 patients (88%) using CT enteroclysis and in 42 patients (84%) using conventional enteroclysis. Significantly more Crohn's disease-associated abnormalities were diagnosed with CT enteroclysis than with enteroclysis (p < 0.01). Minimal inflammatory changes of the mucosa were diagnosed in 44 patients (88%) using CT enteroclysis and in 42 patients (84%) using enteroclysis. Both imaging methods depicted stenotic bowel segments in 34 patients (68%), and prestenotic dilatation was diagnosed in 20 patients (40%) with CT enteroclysis and in 15 (30%) with enteroclysis. Fistulas were found in 18 patients (36%) with CT enteroclysis and in eight (16%) with enteroclysis (p < 0.01). Skip lesions could be seen in 17 (34%) and three patients (6%), respectively (p < 0.01). Conglomeration of bowel loops tumors was diagnosed with CT enteroclysis in 13 patients (26%) and in three patients (6%) using conventional enteroclysis (p < 0.01). Only CT enteroclysis depicted abscesses in eight patients (16%) (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
CT enteroclysis proved to be significantly superior to conventional enteroclysis in depicting Crohn's disease-associated intra- and extramural abnormalities. CT enteroclysis is the imaging method of choice and should replace enteroclysis in patients with Crohn's disease.
Sailer
Johannes
J
Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. johannes.sailer@meduniwien.ac.at
Peloschek
Philipp
P
Schober
Ewald
E
Schima
Wolfgang
W
Reinisch
Walter
W
Vogelsang
Harald
H
Wunderbaldinger
Patrick
P
Turetschek
Karl
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed