MR-Enterography Intestinal Findings in Crohn’s Disease

Magnetic resonance enterography is provided with high soft-tissue contrast resolution which affords an accurate evaluation of intestinal loops and a clear distinction of normal from pathologic features. Three main radiologic subtypes have been described in the intestinal involvement of Crohn’s disease: active inflammatory, fistulizing/perforating, and fibrostenosing. The three subtypes are characterized by particular morphologic findings, signal intensity, and enhancement pattern of intestinal walls. Nevertheless, the evaluation must be extended over the mural edges for assessment of additional structures involved by the pathologic process, including vessels, lymph nodes, and perivisceral adipose tissue. Intestinal as well as extraintestinal findings concur to comprehensively define the clinical picture which is crucial in supplying the clinician essential information for the correct management of the patient.