Imaging

Can intestinal ulcers and small bowel tears be seen on CT or MRI?  I

[don2274]

Anybody?

[boron]

Only sometimes, rarely actually. For large bowel you need colonoscopy, for small bowel you need capsule endoscopy.

[don2274]

I had a small bowel series before.   Do most places have the capsule endoscopy now?  

[boron]

Capsule endoscopy became widely available lately, you have just to ask at the clinic, where you want to be diagnosed.

[lizziecee]

I have had Crohn's for 38+ yrs and never had capsule endoscopy - possibly because I have two strictures and the capsule could block the intestines.  Ulcers and tears are normally diagnosed through either upper barium series or endoscopy. Not sure if MRI can pick them up - I had my first MRI, with contrast, last Nov as regular monitoring, and this did show two strictures. Nothing was done as I was asymptomatic, but got different symptoms now to normal Crohn's ones and having a CT Thursday, and endoscopy under sedation early July.

As we have socialised medicine in England, we can't just ask for various tests to be done, the gastro decides o the symptoms presented. The up side is, we don't have to pay for tests, surgeries and if retired, drugs either.

Liz.