Differentiation of Inflammatory from Fibrotic Ileal Strictures among Patients with Crohn's Disease through Analysis of Time –Intensity Curves Obtained after Microbubble Contrast Agent Injection

The aim of the study described here was to assess whether the analysis of time –intensity curves obtained after microbubble contrast agent injection could differentiate inflammatory from fibrotic ileal strictures among patients with Crohn's disease. Sixty-five consecutive patients (40 male and 25 female; mean age ± SD, 42.2 ± 12.22 y) with stricture of the terminal il eal loop from Crohn's disease were scanned after microbubble injection. Time–intensity curves were obtained from quantitative analysis, and peak enhancement, rise time, time to peak, area under the time–intensity curve (AUC), AUC during wash-in (AUCWI) and AUC during wash-out (AUCWO) were compar ed between patients with inflammatory strictures and patients with fibrotic strictures.
Source: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Original Contribution Source Type: research