Related Experiment Videos
Pneumatosis intestinalis. Appearance on MR examination
1Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.
Clinical Imaging
|October 1, 1994
Summary
Pneumatosis intestinalis, or air in the bowel wall, is visible on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Gradient-echo sequences enhance the visibility of this air due to magnetic field effects.
Area of Science:
- Radiology and Medical Imaging
- Gastrointestinal Imaging
Background:
- Pneumatosis intestinalis is a condition characterized by the presence of air within the bowel wall.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate patient management, distinguishing benign from potentially surgical causes.
Observation:
- This study details the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of pneumatosis intestinalis in two patients.
- Key findings include circumferential collections of air adherent to or within the bowel wall.
Findings:
- Air within the bowel wall demonstrates increased conspicuity on gradient-echo MR sequences.
- This enhanced visibility is attributed to the "blooming" artifact caused by magnetic field inhomogeneities at air-tissue interfaces.
Implications:
- While not a primary diagnostic tool for pneumatosis intestinalis, radiologists should recognize its MR appearance.
- Familiarity with these findings can aid in the interpretation of abdominal MR scans where pneumatosis may be incidentally detected.