Magnetic resonance enterography for assessing pediatric Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the GI tract that often presents during childhood and adolescence. Children with Crohn’s disease are often subjected to repeated radiologic examinations throughout the course of their illness, thereby raising great concern over the potential harm of cumulative radiation exposure. Magnetic resonance enterography is a new modality that provides detailed images of the GI tract without exposure to ionizing radiation. This article reviews past methods of bowel imaging, the scope of the problem with regard to radiation exposure, as well as the technical aspects, indications, and current evidence for magnetic resonance enterography in children with Crohn’s disease. Various examples of inflammatory, stricturing and penetrating disease activity are provided.