CT enterography: is it the current state-of-the-art for small bowel diagnostics?

CT enterography has rapidly emerged as the preferred small bowel imaging modality at several tertiary care medical centers. It utilizes negative or neutral oral contrast agents to enhance small bowel mural assessments. A high sensitivity and specificity for active inflammation and its ability to detect extra-intestinal disease set CT enterography apart from more traditional imaging methods. It has also been shown to be of great value for the detection of occult penetrating disease, changing physician level of confidence, and altering management plans in a large proportion of patients. Concerns regarding radiation exposure will likely become less of an issue with new dose reduction techniques. CT enterography has begun to revolutionize Crohn's disease evaluations for luminal and extraluminal disease, and its role will likely continue to expand in diagnostic and management algorithms.