Have you had to have a MRI for Crohn's

[dfyang123]

Hi everyone,
I need your input, my son is seeing a new GI doctor in California, he ordered a capsule endoscopy even though my son had colonoscopy at the end of last year, unfortunately our insurance didn't approve this request because they said my son's disease didn't get worse. So now doctor ordered a MRI and got approved. I'm just not comfortable about this because for all the information I knew about Crohn's, I never heard patient need do MRI, so I'm posting here, hope someone can help me to sort out this. Thanks!

 

[ronroush7]

A MRI can spot something other tests can't sometimes.

 

[MKW]

I've had two MRI's for my crohn's, with an MRI like the previous person stated you are able to see much more of the inflammation, as well as more detailed pictures of the organs that other tests cannot show. I know it seems peculiar because a colonoscopy gives you picture but the prep for an MRI has a lot to do with it as well.

 

[Clash]

Imaging is useful in Crohn's disease to see if there is inflammation/active disease located in the small bowel. A colonoscopy can only see into the last part of the small bowel and an upper endoscopy only sees into the first part of the small bowel. So alot of small bowel is left unobserved.

Most pediatric GIs opt for MRE (magnetic resonance enterography ) but MRIs and CT scans are also used. Though a lot of GIs avoid CT scans due to the radiation. GIs also use to use SBFT (small bowel follow throughs) which involve a lot of xrays after a contrast drink but not as frequently now since it's radiation as well.

My son was diagnosed at 15 he is 19 now and he's had 3 MREs to determine if disease may have progressed higher up into small bowel.

 

[Grumpy]

I've had 2 CT's, 2 MRIs (one straight, one with drinking stuff) and a colonoscopy in the last year, so it is absolutely normal.

I have to confess that I don't know what information a CT vs an MRI gives but I think the MRI can look at structures of about 1-2mm in size in a non-invasive way. With both of these, as well as being able to access the small bowel easily, the GI can get a picture of the exterior walls of the gut whereas from inside, you can only see...errr...what's inside.

This is important because you can assess the extent of dilation or expansion of the bowel, whether it is attached to external organs or tissue etc...Since Crohns affects all layers of the intestinal wall, it is important information as to the condition of the gut.

 

[crohnsinct]

Yes. Pretty standard protocol. The gi is making sure they aren't missing anything and under treating the disease. There are some threads here in the parent section about what to expect. Good luck!

 

[malorymug]

I see MRE most often with crohn's to see parts of the small intestine the scope can't get to. MRE is an MRI with ingested barium so the intestines show clearly on the imaging.

It was really helpful for my son. The colonoscopy showed classic crohn's but the MRE told us he also had fistulas which were not seen with the scopes. Treating fistulas can be different than non-fistulated crohn's so the doctor was able to make some changes to his medication based on the MRE.

 

[MamaZ]

Yes, as stated above, MRI and MRE are standard imaging to diagnose and show the extent of Crohn's. My son first had MRI of pelvis with IV contrast to look at the perianal abscess and confirm fistula, then had colonoscopy and EGD, and since the GI Dr wasn't sure how thickened/ inflamed the ileum is she didn't want to do capsule endoacopy but she ordered an MRE ( with oral, glucagon injection and IV contrast) instead. The MRE showed clearly how many cm of the small bowel is thickened/ inflamed and the extent of narrowing (how many mm of wall thickening...it also looks at all other area of lower GI tract and other organs ....Good luck

 

[Mehita]

My son does MRE's to see his small intestine which can't be reached by scopes. It's pretty standard with Crohn's.

It was also an MRE that discovered his stricture and inflammation. Now he has them done every couple years as part of his regular screenings.

What exactly about MRE's makes you uncomfortable?

 

[shay84]

Hi everyone,
I need your input, my son is seeing a new GI doctor in California, he ordered a capsule endoscopy even though my son had colonoscopy at the end of last year, unfortunately our insurance didn't approve this request because they said my son's disease didn't get worse. So now doctor ordered a MRI and got approved. I'm just not comfortable about this because for all the information I knew about Crohn's, I never heard patient need do MRI, so I'm posting here, hope someone can help me to sort out this. Thanks!

That's one of the first test they did on my daughter when they diagnosed her that's how I found out she had a fistula.

 

[CrohnsKidMom]

My son has had 3 MRE's since diagnosis. His disease is mainly located in the small intestine, where scopes can't access. The contrast makes my son feel nauseated, the machine is noisy, and an IV is necessary. But otherwise it's a straightforward procedure and painless.

 

[Grumpy]

^^^

TBH having been on liquids for about a year, I've drunk some pretty rank stuff, but that stuff, for me, was the absolute skankiest of the rankiest.

(Pardon my French)

 

[Worried mama]

We had an MRE done at diagnosis, along with colonoscopy and endoscopy. It gets the the area that the scopes can't see, that's my understanding.

 

[Absentminded]

I've had about 15 MRIs over the last few years; my Gastro and my Surgeon love them as a diagnostic test for me as they're non-invasive and they can check for any thickening around my surgery join site or any fistulas (which is one of my main issues.)

I usually have to fast from midnight if I'm having a morning MRI and then I usually have some contrast fluid to drink once I get to the hospital (you drink it slowly over an hour.) I have small bowel MRIs, so I have to lie on my front (which is quite comfy.) The technician doing the test will usually put a cannula in your arm so that they can also give you IV contrast; I've never found it to have any physical effect on me.

MRIs are really safe and very useful for monitoring IBD. Hope it all goes well.

 

[Catherine]

My DD has small bowel Crohn's disease, 20 cm higher than a colonscopy can reach. She has had 2 MRI.

 

[Jenn]

ditto. my son has had a couple, one to see a fistula and after it healed. MRI/E can see the small bowel better. The contrast is hard to get down, he did less than half and it was ok. There's no radiation exposure. And safer than the capsule, which can get stuck and is hard to swallow.

 

[kimmidwife]

My daughter too has had numerous MRIs done. Not unusual at all.

 

[Jmrogers4]

MRE here for my son also after several years on other meds and scopes showed remission but MRE showed massive inflammation in small intestine past the range of the scope. Led to a change in meds and so far a good long remission - 2 years and counting.
At this point his GI will do MRE before any other imagining on him.

 

[Farmwife]

My dd has had one at the age of 6. Standard for our GI to do to check for anything hidden.

 

[lchele1203]

I get an MRI every year before I get my dilations.

 

[dfyang123]

Thank you all for replying my thread. After your input I feel so much better. At first I thought it's unnecessary to have MRI because my son's Crohn's in colon, he doesn't have any symptom now, all his blood test and stool is fine, I thought if he has small intestine inflammation, then he must have some symptoms like pain or losing weight, but doctor still wants to make sure his small intestine is ok so he can determine what medicine to use. Also from the pamphlet doctor gave us didn't say any test like MRI to diagnose Crohn.

 

[ronroush7]

You are welcome