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Dark-lumen magnetic resonance colonography in patients with suspected sigmoid diverticulitis: a feasibility study

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Abstract

To assess dark-lumen magnetic resonance colonography (MRC) for the evaluation of patients with suspected sigmoid diverticulitis. Forty patients with suspected sigmoid diverticulitis underwent MRC within 72 h prior to conventional colonoscopy (CC). A three-dimensional T1-weighted volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination sequence was acquired after an aqueous enema and intravenous administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents. All MRC data were evaluated by two radiologists. Based on wall thickness and focal uptake of contrast material and pericolic reaction including mesenteric infiltration on T1-weighted sequence the sigmoid colon was assessed for the presence of diverticulitis. MRC classified 17 of the 40 patients as normal with regard to sigmoid diverticulitis. However, CC confirmed the presence of light inflammatory signs in four patients which were missed in MRC. MRC correctly identified wall thickness and contrast uptake of the sigmoid colon in the other 23 patients. In three of these patients false-positive findings were observed, and MRC classified the inflammation of the sigmoid colon as diverticulitis whereas CC and histopathology confirmed invasive carcinoma. MRC detected additionally relevant pathologies of the entire colon and could be performed in cases where CC was incomplete. MRC may be considered a promising alternative to CC for the detection of sigmoid diverticulitis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany

    Waleed Ajaj, Thomas Lauenstein, Susanne Goehde, Christiane Kuehle & Christoph U. Herborn

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

    Stefan G. Ruehm

  3. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany

    Jost Langhorst, Thomas Zoepf & Guido Gerken

  4. Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Mathias Goyen

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  1. Waleed Ajaj
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  2. Stefan G. Ruehm
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  3. Thomas Lauenstein
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  4. Susanne Goehde
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  5. Christiane Kuehle
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Correspondence to Waleed Ajaj.

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Ajaj, W., Ruehm, S.G., Lauenstein, T. et al. Dark-lumen magnetic resonance colonography in patients with suspected sigmoid diverticulitis: a feasibility study. Eur Radiol 15, 2316–2322 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2862-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2862-2

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