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Feasibility of MRI in the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis: initial results

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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate MRI as a diagnostic tool in patients with suspected acute sigmoid diverticulitis. Furthermore, we sought to develop an optimal imaging protocol in these patients.Patients and methods: Eleven patients with suspected acute diverticulitis were included in the study. All patients were imaged in a 1.0 T clinical scanner using a body-array coil. Imaging sequences were single-shot TSE, HASTE-, STIR- and TrueFisp-sequence. All were obtained in the frontal plane. The diagnosis was verified by a single experienced investigator, using ultrasound, and overall clinicopathological outcome.Results: MRI enabled visualization of signs of an acute diverticulitis in all patients. However, the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis was obtained in 10 patients only. The mean imaging time was 17.5 ± 5.5 min. STIR- and TrueFisp-sequences alone displayed all findings, e.g pericolonic exsudation, edema and segmental narrowing, whereas SSTSE and HASTE-sequences showed no additional information. Therefore, it appeared that the imaging protocol could be restricted to STIR- and TrueFisp-sequences.Conclusion: MRI is feasible as a fast, accurate and investigator-independent diagnostic tool in patients with suspected acute diverticulitis. To prove its value in comparison to computed tomography or ultrasound, further studies are needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, Philipps University, Baldingerstr, 35033, Marburg, Germany

    Johannes T. Heverhagen, Natascha Ishaque, Lars-Daniel Berthold & Klaus J. Klose

  2. Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Philipps University, Baldingerstr, 35033, Marburg, Germany

    Andreas Zielke & Thomas Bohrer

  3. Department of Theoretical Surgery, University Hospital, Philipps University, Baldingerstr, 35033, Marburg, Germany

    Helmut Sitter

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  1. Johannes T. Heverhagen
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  2. Natascha Ishaque
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  3. Andreas Zielke
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  4. Thomas Bohrer
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  5. Helmut Sitter
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  6. Lars-Daniel Berthold
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  7. Klaus J. Klose
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Correspondence to Johannes T. Heverhagen.

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Heverhagen, J.T., Ishaque, N., Zielke, A. et al. Feasibility of MRI in the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis: initial results. MAGMA 12, 4–9 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678267

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678267

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