CT enteroclysis: Multidetector technique (MDCT) versus single-detector technique (SDCT) in patients with suspected small-bowel Crohn’s disease

• DOI: 10.1007/s11547-007-0215-8
• Publication Date: 2007-12-11T21:56:08Z
• Authors: L. M. Minordi; A. Vecchioli; G. Poloni; L. Bonomo
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Chi-Square Distribution; Iohexol; Contrast Media; Methylcellulose; Middle Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Crohn Disease; Intestine, Small; Humans; Female; Prospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Aged

This study was done to evaluate the diagnostic role of enteroclysis with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and single-detector CT (SDCT) in patients affected by small-bowel Crohn's disease.Forty-five patients underwent abdominal SDCT (n=20) or 16-row MDCT (n=25) after administration of methylcellulose by nasojejunal tube. Each examination was assessed for small-bowel distension and site and characteristics of the diseased loops. The two CT techniques were then compared. Results were compared with double-contrast enteroclysis performed in all patients and with ileoscopy performed in 28 patients.In comparison with double-contrast enteroclysis, sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 90%, 71% and 89% for SDCT and 92%, 83% and 90% for MDCT. Ileoscopy confirmed the absence of disease in five patients and the presence of Crohn's disease in 20. Compared with SDCT, MDCT reduced scanning time and respiratory artefacts and permitted better multiplanar reconstructions.MDCT is superior to SDCT because it allows a better spatial resolution and improves depiction of the pathological patterns of Crohn's disease.