Computed tomography vs barium studies in the acutely symptomatic patient with Crohn disease

Gastrointestinal contrast studies and CT performed on 43 patients with known Crohn disease with acute symptoms were retrospectively reviewed to assess the ability of each study to define the location and extent of disease. In 39 of 43 (91%) patients the contrast studies and CT agreed on the location of active disease. However, in 15 of 43 (35%) patients, contrast studies demonstrated additional areas of mucosal disease remote from the major area of activity that were not suggested by CT. In addition to demonstrating more extensive mucosal disease, contrast studies proved superior in demonstrating enteroenteric fistulae, sinus tracts, strictures, postsurgical anatomy, and relation of recurrence to anastomosis. Computed tomography proved superior in demonstrating mesenteric inflammation, abscesses, enterovesical and enterocutaneous fistulae, fistula to iliopsoas muscle and to sacrum. We conclude that in the patient with suspected abscess, enterovesical or enterocutaneous fistula, CT is the study of choice. In other clinical circumstances both CT and contrast studies should be performed since they are complementary.