Imaging assessment of paediatric Crohn's disease: A literature review

Abstract

Owing to the frequent absence of specific symptoms, diagnosis of Crohn's disease may be delayed, potentially leading to important patient morbidity, growth failure, pubertal delay, or a complicated form of the disease. In paediatric patients with Crohn's disease, radiation protection requires special consideration, and choosing the most appropriate imaging modality is crucial. All radiologists should be familiar with the main imaging characteristics of Crohn's disease. Therefore, the present study reviews the current literature on imaging modalities and main imaging characteristics of Crohn's disease. Magnetic resonance imaging is recommended for diagnosis of Crohn's disease in paediatric patients because it is able to precisely define the presence, the extent, the grade of activity, and the principal complications of the disease without any radiation exposure.