The Role of Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Enterography in Evaluation of Crohn's Disease Activity

Objective: This study assessed the benefits of adding dynamic contrast-enhanced images to conventional magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) for detecting Crohn’s disease (CD) activity. Material and Method: The MRE images and files of 28 patients diagnosed with or suspected of having Crohn’s disease were reviewed. Colonoscopy was performed in all subjects. This study included 17 patients with both colonoscopic findings and histological evidence of active CD. All patients underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MRE. The following semiquantitative parameters were derived from the time-intensity curve: the maximum contrast enhancement, maximum relative enhancement, wash-in rate, time to peak, dynamic and static enhancement ratios, slope of enhancement, and area under the curve (AUC). Results: In total, 43 bowel segments (26 involved, 17 normal) in the 17 patients with active disease were analyzed. Of the semiquantitative parameters, only the AUC differed significantly (p<0.05) between involved and normal bowel segments. Conclusion: No one semiquantitative parameter alone can identify active inflammation more reliably than colonoscopy and pathological confirmation.