[Magnetic resonance imaging of the small bowel]

Conventional small bowel enteroclysis is considered the principal radiological method to investigate the small bowel. However, the method has important limitations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been introduced as an alternative.

This review is based on the literature and our clinical experience.

There are two main methods for MRI examination of the small bowel. One method uses a tube placed in the jejunum prior to the MRI examination and the other uses simple oral administration of contrast media. These methods are both shown to be as good as conventional X-ray examinations of the small bowel when used for follow up of patients with Crohn's disease. However, the resolution in MRI of the small bowel is insufficient to depict small superficial lesions. MRI should therefore be used as the preferred radiological method for follow up of patients with known Crohn's disease. When the primary diagnosis is not known, MRI should be used only as a supplement to more extensive investigations.