Hydro-MRI with fast sequences in Crohn's disease: Comparison with barium studies.

Purpose: To compare the value of hydro-MRI with that of barium studies in p atients with Crohn's disease. Materials and Methods: After an oral bowel op acification using 1000 mi of a 2.5% mannitol solution, axial and coronal br eathhold sequences (T2W HASTE +/- FS, contrast-enhanced T1W FLASH FS) were acquired in 46 patients with Crohn's disease at 1,0T. The findings of hydro -MRI were compared with those of barium studies. Results: In the stomach an d the small bowel, hydro-MRI and barium studies demonstrated similar number s of Crohn's involvements (39 vs. 36); in the colon, hydro-MRI showed clear ly more affections (23 vs. 10). Hydro-MRI showed 12.7cm of inflamed bowel p er patient, on average (barium studies: 10,4 cm; p = 0,004). There was a go od agreement between the two methods regarding the assessment of the extent of Crohn's disease and the severity of bowel stenoses (r=0.89 and 0.88, re spectively). Conclusions: For the assessment of Crohn's disease, hydro-MRI is preferable to the barium study because of the superior imaging quality a nd the lack of radiation exposure.