Multislice CT compared to small bowel follow-through in the evaluation of patients with Crohn disease

Background Patients with Crohn disease (CD) often undergo both multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and small bowel follow-through (SBFT) for evaluation of their disease. We compared the findings on computed tomography (CT) and SBFT in patients with CD to determine whether MSCT can be the modality of choice in the evaluation of these patients. Methods We reviewed the CT and SBFT studies of 41 patients with CD. The findings were evaluated by three experienced abdominal imagers. Results There was no statistical difference in the detection of mural involvement of the small bowel. The CT showed additional involvement of the colon, mesenteric involvement, and extraenteric complications. Conclusion Multislice CT is a reliable modality in demonstrating enteric as well as extraenteric pathological findings in patients with CD. We suggest that MSCT can replace SBFT in the evaluation of patients with CD.