New MR Enterography study available at Providence Imaging Center
Posted on Fri, Jan 28, 2011
New Low Cost MRI Eliminates Unnecessary Radiation Exposure in Patients with Small Bowel Disease
Historically, CT has been favored over MR for the imaging of Inflammatory Bowel Disease due to its speed, relative lack of motion artifact and its excellent temporal and spatial resolution.
Today, a growing public awareness of the unknown effects of cumulative life-time ionizing radiation exposure for these chronic patients has created an environment where both clinicians and patients are looking for an alternative to this exam. Fortunately, Providence Imaging Center (PIC) has a solution.
We are proud to announce the introduction of MRI enterography for patients with chronic disease or any other small bowel disease where there is a concern about cumulative radiation exposure from X-ray or CT imaging. 
Advances in GE’s MRI technology has provided the ability to perform fast, accurate imaging of the abdomen and pelvis with better tissue contrast and unlike conventional enteroclysis, MRI enables visualization of disease extension beyond the intestinal wall, i.e. abscesses and fistulas. These capabilities make MRI enterography the ideal diagnostic tool for imaging patients with small bowel disease, especially Crohn’s Disease.
With these advanced capabilities we are able to offer this test for a cost that is at least equal to, or even less than the cost of a CT. The patients prep is the same, NPO 4 hours prior. They must drink 3 bottles of volumen over the course of 45 minutes prior to the beginning the exam and for MRI we also give the patient glucagon to stop peristalsis (patients who are diabetic and on insulin will need to monitor their blood sugar after the MRI as glucagon can cause this to temporarily increase). As we also administer gadolinium with this procedure we need to make sure the patient’s kidney function is normal, or at least have a GFR greater than 30.