Comparison of US Strain Elastography and Entero-MRI to Typify the Mesenteric and Bowel Wall Changes during Crohn’s Disease: A Pilot Study

Abstract EN

Purpose.

To evaluate and compare the mesenteric and bowel wall changes during Crohn’s disease (CD) on ultrasonography (US) Strain Elastography (SE) and Enterography Magnetic Resonance Imaging (E-MRI).

Methods.

From July 2014 to September 2016, 35 patients with ileocolonoscopy diagnosis of CD were prospectively examined with E-MRI and in the same time with US and SE.

Results.

A total of 41 affected bowel segments and 35 unaffected bowel segments in 35 patients were evaluated.

US-SE color-scale coding showed a blue color pattern in the fibrotic mesentery and bowel wall in 15 patients and a green color pattern in the edematous ones in 20 patients.

The signal of the bowel wall and mesenteric fat was iso/hypointense on T2-weighted sequence in the fibrotic pattern (23/35 and 12/35 patients) and hyperintense in the edematous pattern (12/35 and 23/35 patients).

Mean ADC values were, respectively, 2,58±0,33 × 10−3 for the fibrotic mesentery and 2,14±0,28 × 10−3 for edematous one.

There was a statistical correlation between US-SE color-scale and T2 signal intensity and between the US-SE color-scale and ADC maps.

Conclusions.

US-SE, ADC, and signal intensity on T2-weighted sequences on MR prove to be useful tools for the evaluation of CD pattern.