Role of MRI in the diagnosis of small bowel diseases

Purpose: to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis, staging and follow-up of inflammatory and neoplastic small bowel diseases. Material and methods: 37 patients with inflammatory and neoplastic (m/f 1:1.5, mean age 39) underwent abdominal MRI examination in 2003–2004. The examination was performed on a 1.0 T machine (GE Signa Horizon LX). Coronal T1 GRE, T2 GRE and FSE sequences were used after the administration of i.v. smooth muscle relaxant and oral endoluminal contrast material. I.v. contrast material was used only in selected cases (16/37) to detect hyperperfusion of patholog…