Small-bowel disease: Comparison of MR enteroclysis images with conventional enteroclysis and surgical findings

PURPOSE: To investigate if magnetic resonance (MR) enteroclysis can be perf ormed routinely and to compare MR enteroclysis findings with those of conve ntional enteroclysis or surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR enteroclysis was prospectively performed in 30 pa tients with symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease or small-bowel obstructi on (SBO). A methylcellulose-water solution was used to distend the small bo wel. To monitor dynamic changes in the small bowel, a single-shot fast spin -echo T2-weighted sequence was applied. For morphologic assessment, breath- hold T2-weighted fast spin-echo and coronal T1-weighted gradient-recalled-e cho MR images were obtained without and with gadolinium enhancement. Image quality and degree of small-bowel distention were graded. MR imaging findin gs and degree of SBO were compared with findings at conventional enteroclys is (n = 25) or surgery (n = 5). RESULTS: MR enteroclysis was well tolerated and provided adequate image qua lity and sufficient small-bowel distention. SBO grade based on MR enterocly sis images (n = 10) was identical to that based on conventional enteroclysi s images (n = 6) or surgical findings (n = 4). There was exact agreement be tween MR enteroclysis and retrospective findings in all five patients who u nderwent surgery, and MR findings were identical to those at enteroclysis i n 18 patients, superior in six patients, and inferior in one patient. CONCLUSION: MR enteroclysis can be performed routinely with adequate image quality and sufficient small-bowel distention. The functional information p rovided by MR enteroclysis is identical to that provided at conventional en teroclysis.