Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2025

Multimodality Diagnosis of Mesenteric Ischemia
Published on: July 21, 2023
[Update: Small bowel diseases in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging]
Stefan Andreas Schmidt1, Meinrad Beer2, Daniel Vogele2
1Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Deutschland. stefan.schmidt@uniklinik-ulm.de.
Clinical/Methodical Issue:
Radiological procedures play a crucial role in the diagnosis of small bowel disease. Due to a broad and quite nonspecific spectrum of symptoms, clinical evaluation is often difficult, and endoscopic procedures require significant manpower, are time-consuming and expensive. In contrast, radiologic imaging can provide important information about morphologic and functional variations of the small bowel and help to identify various disease entities, such as inflammation, tumors, vascular problems, and obstruction.
Standard Radiological Methods:
The most common radiological modalities in small bowel diagnostics include ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluoroscopy. Each of these modalities has its own advantages and limitations, and the choice of imaging modality depends on clinical symptoms and suspected diagnosis in addition to availability.
Methodological Innovations:
In recent years, significant progress has been made, especially in cross-sectional imaging modalities, as a result of new and further technical developments.
Performance:
These range from increasing detail resolution to functional and molecular imaging techniques that go far beyond simple morphology. In addition, information technology (IT) applications, which include artificial intelligence and radiomics, are assuming an increasing role.
Achievements:
Many of the methods mentioned are still in early stages and need to be further developed for daily practice, but some have already found their way into clinical routine.
Practical Recommendations:
The aim of this work is to provide a review of the most important disease entities of the small intestine, including new and innovative diagnostic approaches.
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