CT findings in Crohn′s disease / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the CT features and the role of CT in the diagnosis of Crohn′s disease. Methods CT manifestations of 18 patients with pathology confirmed Crohn′s disease were retrospectively analyzed. The majority of the patients were scanned with spiral CT or multidetector row CT.Results All 18 patients, segmental thickening of the bowel wall was detected. There were two different appearances in contrast-enhanced CT scans (1) mural thickening without enhancement or mural stratification, and homogeneous attenuation in the thickened wall were observed in 7 patients; (2) mural thickening and stratification, resulting in the target or double-halo appearance, were detected in 11 patients, and the bowel wall thickening ranged from 5 to 10 mm. Nine patients had perienteric abnormalities including fibrofatty proliferation, phlegmon and mesenteric hypervascularity. According to the CT manifestations, 5 patients were initially diagnosed as other diseases including intestinal obstruction (1 case), tuberculosis (1 case), cancer (2 cases), and abscess (1 case), respectively. Conclusion CT has the unparalleled ability to depict the abnormalities in the bowel wall, mesentery, abdominal and pelvic viscera, and contrast-enhanced CT can distinguish active Crohn′s disease from quiescent Crohn′s disease. These features make CT particularly valuable in the management of Crohn′s disease.