Small Bowel: The Last Stronghold of Gastrointestinal Radiology

Abstract

Cross-sectional imaging is of vital importance in the diagnosis and management of small bowel pathology. The key imaging modalities are CT- and MR- enterography CT-E and MR-E), each with characteristic advantages and disadvantages in various clinical settings. Major small bowel pathology includes inflammatory conditions such as IBD, infection, GVHD, and celiac disease. Neoplasms of the small bowel are relatively rare, though clinical suspicion must remain high as diagnosis is often significantly delayed. Mesenteric ischemia is a surgical emergency and must be identified and managed rapidly in order to minimize mortality. Careful consideration is often needed in choosing appropriate imaging studies for various clinical scenarios to obtain critical diagnostic information and familiarity with radiological signs for various pathologies is essential in the assessment and possible characterization of small bowel disease.