Enteroelysis and spiral CT examination in diagnosis and evaluation of small bowel Crohn's disease

Introduction: During the last few decades introducing many of new radiologic methods, diagnostic conditions and facilities of Crohn's disease has became markedly improved. Appropriate using of these technics definitely modifies the management of patients with known or suspected Crohn's disease serving reliable information about extent, severity and possible complications of disease. Enteroclysis and Computed tomography are the two major and basic methods to disclose or confirme diagnosis of Crohn's disease, obtain appropriate information about disease either with mucosal, transmural or extraintestinal manifestation. Method's and patients: We evaluated 281 patients who were referred in our institution under suspition of Crohn's disease. Enteroclysis and abdominal spiral CT in all cases were carried out usually within 1 week. The 172 patients underwent abdominal spiral CT as the primary examination to evaluate diagnostic value of spiral CT in this entity, while 109 patiens had enteroclysis followed by abdominal CT. In 11 cases we also perforined CT enteroclysis with administration of 0.5% methylcellulose solution thorough nasojejunal tube controlled by electric motor driven contrast pump. Results were compared with final clinical. pathological or surgical data were available. Results: From the 281 patients eventually 74 proved Crohn's disease; sensitivity and specificity of enteroclysis proved to be 96 and 98%, while spiral CT sensitivity and specificity was 94 and 95%, respectively. Enteroclysis was superior to the spiral CT in demonstration of early lesions and functional disorders, while spiral CT proved to be essential in evaluation of transmural and extraintestinal complications. Conclusions: Regarding enteroclysis and spiral CT as complementary methods, they provide excellent results in diagnosis of Crohn's disease. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.