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MR imaging of acute bowel pathology: a pictorial review

Nancy A Hammond1, Frank H Miller, Vahid Yaghmai

  • 1Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Ste 800, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. nhammond@nmff.org

Emergency Radiology
|December 22, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offers advantages for diagnosing acute bowel conditions, including better soft tissue detail and no radiation. Radiologists should learn these MR features for improved abdominal pain diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Computed tomography (CT) is often the primary imaging choice for acute abdominal conditions.
  • Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging presents unique advantages in specific clinical scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To illustrate the magnetic resonance imaging features of acute bowel pathologies.
  • To enhance radiologists' recognition of MR findings in acute abdominal pain.

Main Methods:

  • Pictorial essay format.
  • Review of key MR imaging findings for various acute bowel conditions.

Main Results:

  • MR imaging provides high soft tissue contrast, beneficial for evaluating bowel abnormalities.
  • MR imaging avoids ionizing radiation, a key advantage over CT.
  • Gadolinium contrast administration is feasible in patients with iodinated contrast allergies.

Conclusions:

  • Abdominal/pelvic MR utilization is increasing, necessitating familiarity with its findings in acute bowel disease.
  • Radiologists must be adept at interpreting MR imaging for acute abdominal pain.
  • MR imaging is a valuable tool for diagnosing acute processes involving the bowel.

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