Intestine MRI what shows

Early diagnosis of intestinal diseases is the key to proper treatment and quick recovery, since it allows you to accurately determine the disease at the beginning of its development, to take all therapeutic measures for its elimination.

To get a complete clinic of pathology, doctors prescribe several research methods, among which the most informative is MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). It belongs to popular technologies, which allows it to be used in various fields of medicine, including gastroenterology. Next, we will tell you when the MRI is prescribed and what it shows, how to prepare for the procedure and whether there are any contraindications to it.

General information

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the informative examination methods that allows you to accurately up to 98% receive data on the anatomical structure and pathological changes in internal organs and systems. MRI works on the principle of processing the energy of hydrogen protons, which are found in human tissues and organs. Hydrogen atoms react to the rays emanating from the tomograph, converting them into an image that is displayed on the computer monitor.

MRI refers to radiation diagnostic methods. Does not require invasive intervention, it allows you to explore a layer-by-layer image of organs, including all parts of the intestine.

Despite the high information content of MRI in bowel diseases, it is effective only in combination with other types of diagnostics. The organs of the abdominal cavity contain too little water, therefore, it is not possible to examine all parts of the intestine in full only with the help of MRI. The intestinal loops, which are intertwined with each other, also interfere with getting a clear picture. That is why MRI is more often performed after colonoscopy as an auxiliary research method.

Types of MRI

For the MRI of the intestine, only modern technological equipment is used. At the moment, the procedure can be carried out in two ways:

• Classic - without the use of contrast medium. It includes the effect on the human body of magnetic impulses that the apparatus emits. The capsule of the device itself can be closed or open. In this case, you can carry out diagnostics in different projections. When using open devices, the viewing angle is much smaller, but such examinations can be performed on people who are overweight or claustrophobic.
• Hydro-MRI - with contrast. Allows you to get a clearer picture, but it requires contrasting the intestines with barium suspension. If the patient is allergic to the composition of the contrast, the doctor may advise before the procedure to drink a large amount of water, which makes it possible to better visualize pathological changes in the intestinal wall. MRI of the intestine with contrast, in contrast to the classical one, allows for a more detailed study of all parts of the gastrointestinal tract, revealing the slightest changes and disturbances in their work.

Which of the two methods is suitable for the patient, the doctor decides based on the general clinic of the disease, its severity and characteristics of the body.

When is an MRI of the intestine prescribed?

Intestinal MRI is performed after colonoscopy, when the doctor has doubts about the diagnosis or in cases where there is a narrowing of the lumen of the colon. In addition, an indication for this technique may be:

• nausea, vomiting of unknown origin;
• pain, discomfort in the navel area;
• increased weakness, fatigue;
• rapid weight loss;
• violation of the stool, the presence of mucus, blood, pus in it;
• incontinence of gas and stool;
• suspicion of tumors or metastases;
• chronic constipation;
• preparation for bowel surgery;
• intestinal obstruction.

All these symptoms can be a sign of serious illness, so when they appear, you need to consult a doctor faster, who will obligatorily conduct an examination and a number of diagnostic activities. Magnetic resonance imaging of the intestine is prescribed if cancer is suspected, since no examination method will give a clearer picture. However, when examining the intestines, it is somewhat different here, and how accurate the examination will be depends on the localization of the neoplasm. Allows with a high probability to give the necessary information about those departments where endoscopic methods cannot penetrate.

What does an MRI of the intestine show?

Magnetic resonance imaging allows you to get pictures of the intestines from different angles, evaluate tissues, blood vessels and nerves, visualize foreign bodies, tumors, problems in the lymph nodes. Despite some of the shortcomings of the examination, it can reveal the following changes in the small and large intestines:

• malignant or benign tumors;
• metastases;
• third-party items;
• intestinal obstruction;
• thrombosis, vascular blockage;
• internal bleeding;
• anomalies in the structure of the organ;
• intestinal trauma and their consequences;
• stones;
• adhesive processes;
• Crohn's disease;
• ulcerative colitis.

Using the MRI procedure, the condition of the lymph nodes in the intestine is checked, hemorrhoids, ulcers and other pathological conditions are diagnosed.

How to prepare

Intestinal MRI does not require careful and special preparation, but to obtain an accurate clinical picture, you still need to follow some recommendations:

• 2-3 days before the examination, exclude from the diet food products that increase gas production: sweets, legumes, cabbage;
• the day before the scan, it is recommended to cleanse the intestines with an enema or taking special preparations from the group of sorbents;
• take an Espumisan tablet in 4 hours, which will help eliminate increased gas formation during scanning;
• do not eat food at least 8 hours before the examination;
• exclude alcohol and spices 2 days before the procedure;
• do not use creams, cosmetics;
• if we are talking about conducting an examination with contrast, 3 days before the scan, the doctor may advise you to take the drug Fortrans.
• wear clothes that will not hinder movement.

All jewelry, watches and electronic devices should be removed prior to diagnosis. You can take ear plugs to help suppress the noise from the scanner during the scan.

Procedure progress

During the period of the MRI of the intestine, the patient is in the prone position, this allows you to get the most accurate results. The person should lie flat, not move. To ensure immobility, fixation is carried out by means of special belts.

After the person is fully prepared, the platform with the device is placed inside the tomograph in such a way that the annular section of the device covers the abdominal region. The patient is alone in the office, but if there is a need to communicate with a specialist, he communicates with him via the built-in microphone.

Visualization of the image of the intestine is carried out from a neighboring office, where all the necessary data is obtained on a computer monitor and immediately decoded. The examination itself takes 30 to 60 minutes.

After the examination, you can get a decryption within a few hours. It is passed on to the patient's attending physician or to the patient himself. To decipher the MRI of the intestine, only the attending physician can make a conclusion.

Are there any contraindications

Despite the high information content and safety, intestinal MRI has some contraindications, which it is extremely important to familiarize yourself with before performing:

• severe pathologies of the liver, kidneys;
• claustrophobia;
• excessive weight, over 130 kg;
• intolerance to contrast solutions;
• mental disorders;
• epilepsy;
• heart failure;
• convulsive syndrome;
• severe form of diabetes mellitus.

It is strictly forbidden to perform an MRI of the intestines on patients who have pacemakers or any other electronic or metal objects. Children under 6 years of age do not undergo MRI, since this technique requires prolonged immobility. The procedure is carried out with caution in women in the first trimester of pregnancy.

MRI is allowed to be performed on pregnant women only without contrast medium.

Advantages and disadvantages

It is generally accepted that MRI is one of the best diagnostic methods in various fields of medicine, which has a number of advantages:

• high information content;
• speed of obtaining results;
• the ability to get pictures in different projections;
• painlessness;
• a small list of contraindications;
• minimum preparation.

Besides the pros of MRI, there are some downsides:

• high price;
• there is no way to take material for histology;
• not performed for children;
• it is impossible to examine a patient with a large weight.

To have an MRI of the intestines, you need a referral from your doctor who needs to get a full clinic for a final diagnosis.

Intestinal MRI is not prescribed so often, since the procedure not only has a high cost, but is also indicated for serious abnormalities in the functioning of the abdominal organs and for suspected oncology. It is widely used in gastroenterology when the etiology of the disease is unclear or when it is difficult to make a final diagnosis.

Video: What does an abdominal MRI show?

Sources:

1. https://vrbiz.ru/diagnostika/mrt-kishechnika
2. http://stopgemor.ru/mrt-kishechnika/
3. https://prokishechnik.info/obsledovaniya/mrt-kishechnika.html