@article{bea5ff90470611df937d000ea68e967b,
title = "Incidental findings at MRI-enterography in patients with suspected or known Crohn's disease",
abstract = "AIM: To determine the frequency and clinical impact of incidental findings detected with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-enterography in patients with suspected or known Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: Incidental findings were defined as unexpected lesions outside the small intestine, not previously known or suspected at the time of referral, and not related to inflammatory bowel disease. Through a systematic review of medical charts we analyzed the clinical impact of incidental findings, and compared the MRI findings with subsequent diagnostic procedures. RESULTS: A total of 283 patients were included in the analysis, and MRI detected active CD in 31\%, fistula in 1.4\% and abscess in 0.7\%. Extra-intestinal findings not related to CD were recorded in 72 patients (25\%), of which 58 patients (20\%) had 74 previously unknown lesions. Important or incompletely characterized findings were detected in 17 patients (6.0\%). Incidental findings led to 12 further interventions in 9 patients (3.2\%) revealing previously unknown pathological conditions in 5 (1.8\%). One patient (0.4\%) underwent surgery and one patient was diagnosed with a malignant disease. MRI detected incidental colonic lesions in 16 patients of which additional work-up in 4 revealed normal anatomy. Two patients (0.7\%) benefitted from the additional examinations, whereas incidental findings led to unnecessary examinations in 9 (3.2\%). CONCLUSION: In a minority of patients with suspected or known CD, important incidental findings are diagnosed at MRI-enterography. However, a substantial number of patients experience unnecessary morbidity because of additional examinations of benign or normal conditions.",
keywords = "Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Child, Crohn Disease, Female, Humans, Incidental Findings, Intestines, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, Retrospective Studies, Unnecessary Procedures, Young Adult",
author = "Jensen, \{Michael Dam\} and Torben Nathan and Jens Kjeldsen and Rafaelsen, \{S{\o}ren Rafael\}",
year = "2010",
month = jan,
day = "7",
doi = "10.3748/wjg.v16.i1.76",
language = "English",
volume = "16",
pages = "76--82",
journal = "World Journal of Gastroenterology",
issn = "1007-9327",
publisher = "Baishideng Publishing Group Inc",
number = "1",
}