Monitoring of CD with cross-sectional imaging
| Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| ▸ Visualisation of the small bowel ▸ Assessment of the transmural and extramural inflammatory process ▸ Possibility of visualisation of the small bowel and the colon in one procedure with MRI enterocolonography ▸ Validated score of activity for terminal ileum and the colon with MRI enterocolonography | ▸ Moderate acceptance of enterography and colonography using enema ▸ Relatively high cost of MRI and CT ▸ Only partial visualisation of the small bowel with US ▸ Ionising radiation with CT ▸ No validated score of activity with US and CT ▸ Timing of the monitoring with cross-sectional imaging not established ▸ Degree of healing required to affect disease outcome not established |
CD, Crohn's disease; US, ultrasonography.