title: Diagnosis of bowel diseases: the role of imaging and ultrasonography.
abstract: Examinations with a visualisation of the anatomy and pathology of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are often necessary for the diagnosis of GI diseases. Traditional radiology played a crucial role for many years. Endoscopy, despite some limitations, remains the main technique in the differential diagnosis and treatment of GI diseases. In the last decades, the introduction of, and advances in, non-invasive cross-sectional imaging modalities, including ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), positron-emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging, as well as improvements in the resolution of imaging data, the acquisition of 3D images, and the introduction of contrast-enhancement, have modified the approach to the examination of the GI tract. Moreover, additional co-registration techniques, such as PET-CT and PET-MRI, allow multimodal data acquisition with better sensitivity and specificity in the study of tissue pathology. US has had a growing role in the development and application of the techniques for diagnosis and management of GI diseases because it is inexpensive, non-invasive, and more comfortable for the patient, and it has sufficient diagnostic accuracy to provide the clinician with image data of high temporal and spatial resolution. Moreover, Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) add important information about blood flow. This article provides a general review of the current literature regarding imaging modalities used for the evaluation of bowel diseases, highlighting the role of US and recent developments in CEUS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy. davideroccarina@gmail.com
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roccarina
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcovich
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ainora
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caracciolo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ponziani
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
authors.forename: Maria Assunta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zocco
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007422:Intestines / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Bowel; Colour-Doppler; Contrast-enhancement; Gastrointestinal tract; Imaging; Time-intensity curve; Ultrasound