Magnetic Resonance Enteroclysis

MR enteroclysis (MRE) is an emerging technique for the evaluation of small intestinal diseases. Administration of an iso-osmotic water solution through a nasojejunal catheter can guarantee adequate luminal distention, and in combination with ultrafast sequences, such as single shot TSE, true FISP, HASTE and 3D FLASH, results in excellent anatomic demonstration of the small intestine. MR fluoroscopy can be performed during MRE examination to monitor the filling process and might be useful in studying low-grade stenosis or motility related disorders. MRE is a very promising technique for the detection and characterization of involved small bowel segments in patients with Crohn's disease while its diagnostic performance in disclosing lumen narrowing and extramural manifestations and complications of the disease is outstanding. Initial experience shows that MRE is very efficient in the diagnosis of small bowel tumors and can be used in the evaluation of small bowel obstruction.