Double-contrast magnetic resonance imaging of the small and large bowel: effectiveness in the evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease

Double-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DC-MRI) is a technique for imaging the intestine, which has shown to be very effective in assessing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and particularly Crohn's disease (CD). The expression derives from the association of two different contrast agents, a superparmagnetic intestinal and a paramagnetic intravenous contrast agent. This specific contrast media combination provides optimization of the tissue contrast, both on T1- and T2-weighted images, thus allowing an effective display of small and large bowel loops in normal and pathologic conditions. Therefore, main CD complications (strictures, fistulas, and abscesses), as well as disease activity, may be valuably assessed. The term DC-MRI may also be referred to the typical "double contrast" effect that is produced by this technique at the level of the inflamed bowel wall, both on T1- and T2-weighted images, directly related to the degree of wall inflammation (disease activity).