ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the diagnostic value of CT enterography in patients with Crohn's disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multi-detector CT enterography and small bowel follow-through were performed in 30 patients with Crohn's disease. The locations and characteristics of the intestinal and extra-intestinal lesions detected by both two techniques were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Skip lesions were diagnosed in 16 patients (53.3%) by CT enterography and in 9 patients (30%) by small bowel follow-through (P = 0.039). Mucosal changes were detected in 29 patients (96.7%) by CT enterography and in 18 patients (60%) by small bowel follow-through (P = 0.001). Among 11 patients whose small bowel follow-through did not show abnormal mucosal changes, 8 patients underwent endoscopy, which showed superficial ulcer with or without mucosal congestion and edema in 5 patients, mucosal congestion and edema in 2 patients, and mucosal erosion in 1 patient. CT enterography and small bowel follow-through consistently depicted fistula in 3 patients and had no significant difference in diagnosing intestinal stenosis. CT enterography also exclusively detected abdominal abscess in one patient.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CT enterography is superior to small bowel follow-through in diagnosing the disease location and characteristics of Crohn's disease; furthermore, it can detect more extra-intestinal lesions. CT enterography has potential to replace small bowel follow-through as the imaging examination of choice for patients with Crohn's disease.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Constriction, Pathologic , Crohn Disease , Diagnosis , Diagnostic Imaging , Diagnostic Imaging , Intestine, Small , Diagnostic Imaging , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the diagnostic and therapeutic values of the capsule endoscopy (CE) in Crohn's disease (CD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 14 patients diagnosed by CE were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical features, CE findings, and medical management were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The severity of CD diagnosed by CE was consistent with the clinical features.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The CE findings are important indicators in CD diagnosis and may facilitate clinical decision making.</p>