RESUMO
Introudction: Crohn's disease [CD] is a lifelong condition. Multiple imaging investigations are often performed during follow-up. This could cause overexposure to radiation. The aim of our study was to determine mean radiation dose in patients with at least a 5-year course of CD and to determine possible risk factors associated with exposure to high doses of radiation
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including patients whose CD was diagnosed between 1998 and 2005. Epidemiologic features of patients, characteristics of the disease, types of imaging investigations that were performed during follow-up and cumulative radiation effective dose were determined. Risk factors associated with exposure to high doses of radiation were then determined
Results: One hundred sixty seven patients were included. There were 92 males [55.1%] and 75 females [44.9%] with mean age at dianosis of 31.4 +/- 12.3years. Global radiation dose was 18.8 +/- 18.9 mSv. Twenty seven patients [16,2%] were exposed to more than 35 mSv and 4 patients [2.4%] had an exposure of more than 75 mSv. Use of Infliximab, age at disease onset /= 8 were independent risk factors of radiation exposure more than 35 mSv with adjusted Odds ratios [OR]: 2.5 [2.1- 5.3]; 1.6 [1.2- 4.7] and 3.2 [2.1- 7.8] respectively. Similarly, use of Infliximab and number of flares >/= 8 were independent risk factors of radiation exposure more than 75 mSv with adjusted OR: 4.3 [2.8-9.5] and 7 [3.2-11.2] respectively
Conclusion: Radiation risk seems to be increased with severe course of CD. Both referring physicians and radiologists have the responsibility to minimise radiation exposure. Entero-magnetic resonance imaging [Entero-MRI] may reduce this risk