MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF CROHN DISEASE - EARLY RECOGNITION OF TREATMENT RESPONSE AND RELAPSE

A patient with active Crohn disease was evaluated by MRI at admission, clinical remission, and a new relapse. The MRI-estimated disease exte nsion correlated with surgical findings, whereas ultrasonography under estimated and a small bowel series overestimated the extension. MRI di sclosed the disappearance of intestinal edema at the time of clinical remission and, in contrast to ultrasonography, showed an abscess and a fistula, confirmed by surgery, at the new relapse.