Application of MRI for small intestinal diseases

Until recently, MRI has not been considered to be suitable for the evaluati on of the small intestine due to artifacts associated with bowel peristalsi s or respiration. However, recent advances of MR techniques enable the acqu isition of clear images of the small intestine. Therefore, the purpose of t his article is to review the details for the application of MRI in patients with small intestinal diseases. This article discusses bowel preparation a nd oral contrast agents as well as MR techniques and pulse sequences. There after, the usefulness of MRI for the lesions in the peritoneal cavity or in the gastrointestinal tract are discussed. Small intestinal lesions are cat egorized into inflammatory, neoplastic, ischemic, and obstructive bowel dis eases. In conclusion, MRI can be used as an alternate modality of choice fo r imaging various diseases of the small intestine.