MRI in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBD is a common term for two chronic diseases, Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD occurs often between the ages of 20-30 years. There are about 25,000 people in Denmark with IBD and diseases incidence and prevalence has increased over the past 20 years [1]. In Denmark, the incidence of CD increased fourfold to 10 per 100,000 inhabitants per years and the incidence of UC doubled to 17 per 100,000 inhabitants per years [2]. Its causes are not completely known but it indicates an interaction between genetic and external factors.

IBD as mentions is a chronic disease which means that it flare up periodically throughout life. Studies show that about 50% at a given time is in clinical remission, 25% had moderate disease activity and 25% have significant disease activity [3]. This means that patients with IBD are more likely to undergo repeatedly examinations to confirm or invalidate disease activity. It is essential for patients that the disease is kept under control so they can maintain a normal working life and a well-functioning social life.

Most studies as when the investigators study began have been in the form of conventional small-bowel follow-through and computed tomographic (CT). A few places in Denmark are beginning to experiment with MRI diagnostics but the method has still no standardized protocol.

There are many advantages by using MRI:

Patients avoid being exposed to X-ray radiation and thus the examination can be carried out repeatedly without any problems. It is especially important for fertile women.