Finding the right tests…
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Finding the right tests…
MRI
An oral contrast drink to stretch the bowel, combined with gadolinium given through a vein, is what this version of the lower abdomen MRI adds to the plain scan, following the same approach used in MR enterography. It's the version doctors reach for when Crohn's disease activity needs a close look, since studies of this kind of imaging have found sensitivity and specificity for detecting bowel inflammation both around 93%. The dye highlights how inflamed bowel wall takes up blood supply differently from healthy tissue, which helps tell an active flare from an old, scarred segment. Because gadolinium is cleared through the kidneys, tell the technologist about any kidney problems before your injection.
This scan checks the bowel wall's thickness and how it takes up contrast, along with the surrounding lower abdomen, for inflammation, narrowing, or complications like a fistula. It's built to tell active bowel disease apart from scarred or settled segments, which your doctor uses to judge how active a condition like Crohn's disease currently is.
MR enterography-style imaging combines an oral contrast drink, which stretches the bowel so lesions aren't hidden in a collapsed loop, with gadolinium given through a vein partway through the scan. Together, these let a radiologist see the bowel wall clearly and check how it responds to the dye.
Inflamed bowel wall tends to take up contrast differently from bowel that's scarred or at rest, which is how this scan tells an active flare apart from old damage. Research on this kind of imaging for Crohn's disease has reported sensitivity and specificity for detecting bowel inflammation both in the low-to-mid 90% range, making it one of the more reliable ways to assess disease activity without endoscopy.
Beyond inflammation, this scan can pick up complications like a narrowed segment or a fistula, an abnormal channel between loops of bowel or nearby organs, which matters for planning treatment.
Gadolinium clears through your kidneys over the following hours, and reactions are uncommon and usually mild. Tell the technologist about any kidney problems or past reaction to contrast before your scan, since people with significantly reduced kidney function may need a different approach.
You'll usually be asked to drink an oral contrast solution before the scan to help distend your bowel, in addition to the gadolinium given through a vein partway through. Both help make bowel changes clearer.
Studies of this kind of MRI have reported sensitivity and specificity for detecting active bowel inflammation both in the low-to-mid 90% range. Your doctor still reads the result alongside your symptoms and other tests.
Gadolinium is generally considered safe, and reactions are uncommon and usually mild. People with significantly reduced kidney function need extra caution, so tell your doctor and the centre about any kidney problems beforehand.
This scan looks at the bowel wall and surrounding tissue from the outside and can show complications like a fistula, while a colonoscopy gives a direct view of the lining and can take a tissue sample. Your doctor may use both depending on your situation.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
There's no universal fasting rule that applies to everyone for this scan. Confirm with your doctor or the centre if they want anything specific from you.
Often, yes. Inflamed, active bowel wall tends to take up the dye differently from bowel that's scarred or settled, which is one of the main reasons contrast is used for this scan.
Tell your doctor and the technologist before your appointment if you've reacted to any contrast dye in the past. They can plan accordingly or discuss alternatives with you.