Magnetic Resonance Enterography Findings, Comparison Of Pre- And Post-Treatment Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Values And Their Correlation With Response To Treatment In Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between magnetic resonance (MR) enterography and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients during active inflammation and remission phases. 

Patients and Methods: We included patients diagnosed with IBD between 01.12.2015-31.08.2016 at our hospital. 47 patients were included; 30 were male (63.8%) and 17 were female (36.2%). Thirty two (68.1%) of them had ulcerative colitis and 15 (31.9%) had Crohn’s disease. Standard institutional sequences for upper and lower abdomen scan included: sagittal and axial T2 TRUFI, axial and coronal fat suppressed T2 TRUFI and coronal and axial T1 VIBE following intravenous (at 60 seconds) contrast medium administration. First group of patients (n=10) had MRI investigations both at active and remission phases, whereas in the second group of patients (n=37) apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, bowel wall thickness and contrast enhancement grades were compared between actively inflamed and non-inflamed bowel segments.

Results: A statistically significant difference was found regarding ADC values and bowel wall thickness measurements in the first group of patients when compared between active and remission phase MRI investigations (p=0.005). Bowel wall contrast enhancement degree did not differ between active and remission phases in the first group (p=0.059). In the second group, there was a statistically significant difference between active and normal bowel segments regarding ADC values, bowel wall thickness and contrast enhancement (p<0.001).

Conclusion: MR enterography and diffusion MRI may be beneficial to determine the degree of inflammation and response to treatment in IBD patients.