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Utility of dark-lumen MR colonography for the assessment of extra-colonic organs

  • Gastrointestinal radiology
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Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the utility of dark-lumen MR colonography (MRC) for the assessment of extra-colonic organs. Three hundred seventy-five subjects with suspected colonic disease underwent a complete MRC examination. MRC data were evaluated by two radiologists in a blinded fashion. In addition to the large bowel, the extra-intestinal organs from the lung bases to the pelvis were assessed for the presence of pathologies. All findings were divided into known or unknown findings and therapeutically relevant or irrelevant findings. If deemed necessary, other diagnostic imaging tests to further assess those findings were performed. In total, 510 extra-colonic findings were found in 260 (69%) of the 375 subjects. Known extra-colonic findings were found in 140 subjects (54%) and unknown findings in 120 subjects (46%). Thirty-one (12%) of the 260 subjects had therapeutically relevant findings (45 findings); 229 patients (88%) had irrelevant findings (465 findings). Dark-lumen MRC is a useful tool not only for the assessment of the entire colon, but also for the evaluation of extra-colonic organs. Thus, intra- and extra-colonic pathologies can be diagnosed within the same examination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Center, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martini-Straße 52, 22046, Hamburg, Germany

    Waleed Ajaj & Mathias Goyen

  2. David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA

    Stefan G. Ruehm

  3. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany

    Susanne C. Ladd

  4. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany

    Guido Gerken

Authors
  1. Waleed Ajaj
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  2. Stefan G. Ruehm
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  3. Susanne C. Ladd
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  4. Guido Gerken
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  5. Mathias Goyen
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Correspondence to Waleed Ajaj.

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Ajaj, W., Ruehm, S.G., Ladd, S.C. et al. Utility of dark-lumen MR colonography for the assessment of extra-colonic organs. Eur Radiol 17, 1574–1583 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-006-0549-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-006-0549-y

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