title: Assessment of wall inflammation and fibrosis in Crohn's disease: value of T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging.
abstract: MRI is increasingly advocated as a robust method for quantifying disease activity in Crohn's disease. In particular, T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced imaging shows considerable promise as a marker of inflammatory activity. However, interpretation of the literature must be made with an understanding of (i) the technical limitations of T1-weighted acquisition protocols and enhancement measurements; (ii) differences in standards of reference for disease activity employed between published studies; and (iii) important underlying macro and micro vascular changes in Crohn's disease. This review will focus specifically on the value of T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced imaging in the assessment of wall inflammation and fibrosis.
authors: Department of Medical Imaging, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Jesica
authors: J
authors: Makanyanga
authors: Shonit
authors: S
authors: Punwani
authors: Stuart A
authors: SA
authors: Taylor
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
chemical_list: D005682:Gadolinium