Wall Contrast Enhancement Research Articles

Strangulated small bowel obstruction in children

BackgroundDiagnosing intestinal strangulation as a complication of small bowel obstruction (SBO) remains a considerable challenge in children. We evaluated the clinicoradiological parameters for predicting the presence of a strangulated intestine. MethodsWe reviewed the medical records of 69 pediatric patients who underwent operation for acute SBO. Regression analysis was used to identify the parameters for predicting strangulated SBO. ResultsOf the 69 patients with SBO, 27 patients had intestinal strangulation and were awarded one point each towards the overall clinical score: intractable continuous abdominal pain, tachycardia, white blood cell count >13,600/mm3, and abdominal distention. Patients with a clinical score ≥2 combined with the presence of ascites in ultrasound (US) results or with wall thickness and reduced wall contrast enhancement in abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans showed strong evidence for intestinal strangulation. ConclusionThe combination of two or more clinical parameters, including intractable continuous abdominal pain, tachycardia, leukocytosis, and abdominal distention with the presence of ascites in US or wall thickness and reduced wall contrast enhancement in, is useful for the identification of strangulated SBO. The type of study and level of evidencePrognosis study; Level III.

Spontaneous and Unruptured Chronic Intracranial Artery Dissection : High-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings.

The aim of this article is to present high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) findings of chronic stage spontaneous and unruptured intracranial artery dissection (ICAD). From March 2012 to April 2016 a total of 29 patients (15 male and14 female, age range 37-68 years) with chronic stage spontaneous and unruptured ICAD (vertebral artery 27, posterior inferior cerebellar artery 1 and middle cerebral artery 1) were retrospectively enrolled. Patients underwent HR-MRI more than 2months (median interval 564 days, range 69-391 days) after symptom onset and were diagnosed at symptom onset or at the first imaging acquisition, which included luminal angiography and/or HR-MRI with clinical information. The HR-MRI findings were evaluated against those of luminal angiography on the basis of the lumen wall morphology, including thickening, contrast enhancement and residual dissection. The HR-MRI findings were classified into complete normalization (normal lumen and wall with or without mild enhancement, n= 6), complete normalization with minimal wall changes (focal wall thickening with enhancement but normal luminal angiography, n= 8), incomplete normalization (focal wall thickening with enhancement with dilatation and stenosis on luminal angiography, n= 4), dissecting aneurysm (fusiform aneurysm with residual dissection findings, n= 8) and occlusion (small outer arterial diameter with diffuse contrast enhancement, n= 3). The use of HR-MRI can demonstrate the distinguishing morphological features of chronic stage of spontaneous and unruptured ICAD as complete normalization, complete normalization with minimal wall changes, incomplete normalization, dissecting aneurysm and occlusion.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in women assessed with combined cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

ObjectiveIn chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), only a few imaging and histopathological studies have previously assessed either cardiac dimensions/function or myocardial tissue, suggesting smaller left ventricular (LV) dimensions, LV wall motion abnormalities and occasionally viral persistence that may lead to cardiomyopathy. The present study with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is the first to use a contrast-enhanced approach to assess cardiac involvement, including tissue characterisation of the LV wall.MethodsCMR measurements of 12 female CFS patients were compared with data of 36 age-matched, healthy female controls. With cine imaging, LV volumes, ejection fraction (EF), mass, and wall motion abnormalities were assessed. T2-weighted images were analysed for increased signal intensity, reflecting oedema (i. e. inflammation). In addition, the presence of contrast enhancement, reflecting fibrosis (i. e. myocardial damage), was analysed.ResultsWhen comparing CFS patients and healthy controls, LVEF (57.9 ± 4.3 % vs. 63.7 ± 3.7 %; p < 0.01), end-diastolic diameter (44 ± 3.7 mm vs. 49 ± 3.7 mm; p < 0.01), as well as body surface area corrected LV end-diastolic volume (77.5 ± 6.2 ml/m2 vs. 86.0 ± 9.3 ml/m2; p < 0.01), stroke volume (44.9 ± 4.5 ml/m2 vs. 54.9 ± 6.3 ml/m2; p < 0.001), and mass (39.8 ± 6.5 g/m2 vs. 49.6 ± 7.1 g/m2; p = 0.02) were significantly lower in patients. Wall motion abnormalities were observed in four patients and contrast enhancement (fibrosis) in three; none of the controls showed wall motion abnormalities or contrast enhancement. None of the patients or controls showed increased signal intensity on the T2-weighted images.ConclusionIn patients with CFS, CMR demonstrated lower LV dimensions and a mildly reduced LV function. The presence of myocardial fibrosis in some CFS patients suggests that CMR assessment of cardiac involvement is warranted as part of the scientific exploration, which may imply serial non-invasive examinations.

Intracranial cystic tumors with a mural nodule: Conventional, diffusion tensor and perfusion magnetic resonance imaging findings

Introduction: Intracranial cystic tumors with mural nodule have been extensively studied. None of these studies have established the role of conventional, fractional anisotropy diffusion tensor imaging (FADTI) and dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of grade and type of cystic brain tumors with a mural nodule. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study, which was conducted at Severance Hospital. Brain MRI of 15 consecutive patients with a cystic brain tumor with a mural nodule was analyzed. Results: Among the 15 studied patients 11 were females. The age ranged from 12 to 54 years. Six of the patients had high-grade tumors. Most five of the high-grade tumors showed cystic wall contrast enhancement while none was found among the low-grade group. All high-grade tumors showed increased regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) compared to three of low-grade tumors. Hemangioblastomas, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and the primitive neuroectodermal tumor showed increased rCBV while pilocytic astrocytoma, ependymoma, and ganglioglioma showed decreased rCBV. There were no difference in fractional anisotropy (FA) values between tumor grades and types. Conclusion: Postcontrast T1-weighted image and perfusion MRI showed in this study to be very useful in differentiating high- and low-grade cystic tumors with the mural nodule. FA values added no benefit to tumor differentiation. Hemangioblastoma was the only tumor with increased rCBV among low-grade tumors. GBM, which is a malignant tumor, can present as a cystic lesion with a mural nodule.

Evaluation of Crohn’s disease activity by MR enterography: Derivation and histopathological comparison of an MR-based activity index

AimsTo compose a qualitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity index showing Crohn disease (CD) activity, and to compare magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) findings with histopathology results. Materials and methodsTwenty-six patients (11 male and 15 female; mean age 36.7) who had MRE and colonoscopic biopsy between October 2011 and August 2012 were included in the study. On MRE the following parameters were evaluated: bowel wall thickness, bowel wall T2 signal, bowel wall contrast enhancement pattern and degree, length and number of involved bowel segments, perimural T2 signal, mesenteric inflammation, mesenteric lymph nodes and complications of CD. Each parameter was scored to calculate MRI activity index. Biopsy specimens were retrospectively evaluated, histopathologic and endoscopic acute inflammmation scores (AIS, eAIS) were calculated. Each parameter and total MRI activity index were compared with the pathology scores (AIS, eAIS) by Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman correlation. ResultsStatistically significant positive correlation was found between AIS and eAIS, mural thickness and eAIS. Moderate correlation was found between MRI activity index and eAIS, mural enhancement degree and eAIS; and poor correlation was found between mesenteric inflammation score and eAIS, MRI activity index and AIS, however they were not statistically significant. ConclusionsIn CD, bowel wall thickness measured by MRE is best correlated with the histopathologic results which are accepted as the reference standard. In cases with high MRI activity index, eAIS is also generally high. MRI activity index which is measured simply and noninvasively can be used in the follow up of CD.

The Role of Magnetic Resonance Enterography ( MRE ) in Detecting Features of Inflammatory Bowel Disease ( IBD ) = دور التصوير المعوي باستخدام الرنين المغناطيسي في كشف ملامح مرض التهاب الأمعاء

Magnetic resonance enterography MRE is a clinically useful technique for the evaluation of intraluminal and extraluminal small bowel disease, particularly in younger patients with Crohn disease (CD). MRE offers the advantages of multiplanar capability and lack of ionizing radiation. It allows evaluation of bowel wall contrast enhancement, wall thickening, and edema, findings useful for the assessment of CD activity. MRE can also depict other pathologic findings such as lymphadenopathy, fistula and sinus formation, abscesses, and abnormal fold patterns. Objective: to enhance the use of MRE in the diagnosis of IBD in the Middle East area especially in Jordan.

Effect of glucocorticoid treatment on computed tomography angiography detected large-vessel inflammation in giant-cell arteritis. A prospective, longitudinal study.

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) detects signs of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) in about 67.5% of patients with giant-cell arteritis (GCA) at the time of diagnosis and early aortic dilatation in 15%. The outcome of CTA-findings of LVV upon glucocorticoid treatment has not been prospectively evaluated.The aim of our study was to prospectively assess glucocorticoid-induced changes in CTA findings of LVV in patients with GCA.Forty biopsy-proven GCA patients evaluated by CTA at diagnosis were prospectively followed and scheduled a new CTA approximately after 1 year of treatment. Vessel wall thickening, diameter, and contrast enhancement of the aorta and its tributaries were evaluated. Results were compared to those obtained at the time of diagnosis.CTA was repeated to 35 patients after a median follow-up of 13.5 months (IQ25–75% 12.4–15.8). Arterial wall thickening was still present in 17 patients (68% of the patients who initially had LVV). The number of affected segments and wall thickness at various aortic segments significantly decreased and no patients developed new lesions, new aortic dilation or increase in previous dilation. Contrast enhancement disappeared in 15 (93.75%) of 16 patients in whom this finding could be assessed.Signs of LVV improve with treatment. While contrast enhancement resolves in the majority of patients, vessel wall thickening persists in two thirds. However, the number of affected aortic segments as well as aortic wall thickness significantly decreases. Longer follow-up is necessary to determine the clinical significance of persisting wall thickening and its relationship with relapses or subsequent development of aortic dilatation or large-vessel stenoses.

Magnetic resonance imaging: a useful tool to distinguish between keratocystic odontogenic tumours and odontogenic cysts

In contrast to odontogenic cysts, keratocystic odontogenic tumours often recur and require more aggressive surgical treatment, so we tried to find features that distinguished between them on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Without knowing the diagnosis, two radiologists reviewed intensity (low, intermediate, or high) and homogeneity (homogeneous or heterogeneous) of signals in short-tau-inversion-recovery (STIR), T1- and T2-weighted, and fat-suppressed, contrast-enhanced MRI in 20 consecutive patients with oval, radiolucent lesions of the mandible on panoramic radiography, and who were subsequently confirmed histopathologically to have either an odontogenic cyst or a keratocystic odontogenic tumour (n=10 in each group). Fisher's exact test was statistically significant at p<0.05. Delineation of a contrast-enhanced wall of a cyst with high signal intensity distinguished odontogenic cysts (9/10 and 8/10, respectively) from keratocystic odontogenic tumours (3/10, p=0.02, and 1/10, p=0.01, respectively). One radiologist found odontogenic cysts were more likely to be homogeneous on unenhanced T1-weighted images (odontogenic cysts 9/10, keratocystic odontogenic tumours 3/10, p=0.02) and one on contrast-enhanced MRI, when the cyst wall was enhanced (odontogenic cysts 7/9, keratocystic odontogenic tumours 0/3, p=0.01). There were no other significant distinguishing features on MRI. In conclusion, the signal intensity of the enhanced wall seems to be a feature on contrast-enhanced MRI that differentiates odontogenic cysts from keratocystic odontogenic tumours.

Combination of contrast-enhanced wall motion analysis and myocardial deformation imaging during dobutamine stress echocardiography.

The combination of deformation analysis with conventional wall motion scoring (WMS) has been shown to increase the diagnostic sensitivity of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). The feasibility and diagnostic power of WMS is largely improved by contrast agents; however, they are not used in combination with deformation analysis, as contrast agents are generally considered to render strain measurement unfeasible. To assess the feasibility of tissue velocity (TVI)- and 2D speckle tracking (ST)-based strain analysis during contrast-enhanced DSE; and to show whether there is an incremental value in combining deformation analysis with contrast-enhanced WMS. DS echocardiograms containing native, tissue Doppler, and contrast-enhanced loops of 60 patients were analysed retrospectively. The feasibility of WMS, TVI-, and ST-strain measurement was determined in 40 patients according to pre-defined criteria. The diagnostic ability of a combined protocol integrating data from contrast-WMS and TVI-strain measurement was then compared with contrast-WMS alone in all 60 patients, using coronary angiograms as a gold standard. Both TVI- and ST-based strain analysis were feasible during contrast-DSE (feasibility at peak stress: 87 and 75%). At the patient level, the diagnostic accuracy of the combined method did not prove superior to contrast-WMS (82 vs. 78%); a trend towards improved sensitivity and specificity for detecting coronary artery disease in the right coronary artery circulation (sensitivity: 85 vs. 77%, P = NS; specificity: 96 vs. 94%) was, however, observed. Both TVI- and ST-based myocardial deformation analysis are feasible during contrast-enhanced DSE, however, our results fail to demonstrate a clear diagnostic benefit of additional strain analysis over expert WMS alone.

Coronary Vessel Wall Contrast Enhancement Imaging as a Potential Direct Marker of Coronary Involvement: Integration of Findings From CAD and SLE Patients

ObjectivesThis study investigated the feasibility of visual and quantitative assessment of coronary vessel wall contrast enhancement (CE) for detection of symptomatic atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) and subclinical coronary vasculitis in autoimmune inflammatory disease (systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]), as well as the association with aortic stiffness, an established marker of risk. BackgroundCoronary CE by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a novel noninvasive approach to visualize gadolinium contrast uptake within the coronary artery vessel wall. MethodsA total of 75 subjects (CAD: n = 25; SLE: n = 27; control: n = 23) underwent CMR imaging using a 3-T clinical scanner. Coronary arteries were visualized by a T2-prepared steady state free precession technique. Coronary wall CE was visualized using inversion-recovery T1 weighted gradient echo sequence 40 min after administration of 0.2 mmol/kg gadobutrol. Proximal coronary segments were visually examined for distribution of CE and quantified for contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and total CE area. ResultsCoronary CE was prevalent in patients (93%, n = 42) with a diffuse pattern for SLE and a patchy/regional distribution in CAD patients. Compared with control subjects, CNR values and total CE area in patients with CAD and SLE were significantly higher (mean CNR: 3.9 ± 2.5 vs. 6.9 ± 2.5 vs. 6.8 ± 2.0, respectively; p < 0.001; total CE area: median 0.8 [interquartile range (IQR): 0.6 to 1.2] vs. 3.2 [IQR: 2.6 to 4.0] vs. 3.3 [IQR: 1.9 to 4.5], respectively; p < 0.001). Both measures were positively associated with aortic stiffness (CNR: r = 0.61, p < 0.01; total CE area: 0.36, p = 0.03), hypercholesterolemia (r = 0.68, p < 0.001; r = 0.61, p < 0.001) and hypertension (r = 0.40, p < 0.01; r = 0.32, p < 0.05). ConclusionsWe demonstrate that quantification of coronary CE by CNR and total CE area is feasible for detection of subclinical and clinical uptake of gadolinium within the coronary vessel wall. Coronary vessel wall CE may become an instrumental novel direct marker of vessel wall injury and remodeling in subpopulations at risk.

SAT0292 Clinical, Imaging and Laboratory Variables Fail to PREDICT Morphological Vascular Progression in Takayasu Arteritis

BackgroundTakayasu arteritis (TA) is an orphan idiopathic inflammatory disease. A major pitfall in TA is the absence of a reliable modality to describe disease evolution and activity. Morphological vascular progression...

FRI0477 Outcome of Large-Vessel Involvement in GIANT Cell Arteritis after 1-Year of Glucocorticoid Treatment: Prospective Study Using Computed Tompography Angiography

BackgroundIn a previous study, computed tomography angiography (CTA) disclosed signs of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) in 67.5% of giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients at the time of diagnosis. Moreover, 15% of...

Role of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of primary angiitis of the central nervous system.

BackgroundPrimary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare disorder and is often difficult to diagnose due to the lack of a confirmatory test. PACNS can generally be diagnosed based on typical angiographic findings. We describe herein a patient diagnosed with PACNS despite the presence of normal findings on conventional angiography.Case ReportA 44-year-old man with a recent history of ischemic stroke in the right posterior cerebral artery territory developed acute-onset vertigo. Diffusion-weighted imaging revealed an acute infarction within the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery. His medical history was unremarkable except for hyperlipidemia; the initial examination revealed mild gait imbalance. During the 10 days of hospital admission, the patient experienced four recurrent ischemic strokes within the posterior circulation territory (occipital lobe, pons, and cerebellum). He was diagnosed with recurrent cerebral infarctions due to PACNS. The basilar artery exhibited no demonstrable luminal stenosis, but there were direct imaging signs of central nervous system angiitis including wall thickening and contrast enhancement. High-dose intravenous steroid therapy followed by oral prednisolone was administered. There was no further stroke recurrence and follow-up imaging of the arterial walls showed normalization of their characteristics.ConclusionsThe present case emphasizes the importance of wall imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of PACNS.

AB0689 Comparison of pvas scores with mra findings of continued activity in singaporean children with takayasu arteritis

BackgroundDisease activity assessment in childhood Takayasu Arteritis (cTA) is an ongoing issue. Recently a new index of disease activity Pediatric Vasculitis Assessment Score (PVAS) was validated for children.ObjectivesOur aim was...

SAT0502 Combined Clinical, Laboratory and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Evaluation of Response to Anti-TNF Agents in Large Vessel Vasculitis (LVV)

BackgroundTreatment of LVV remains challenging. Patients usually respond to glucocorticosteroids (GC) therapy, but often relapse on tapering of the GC dose or after GC withdrawal. Anti-TNF agents represent an alternative...

Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix in which contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was useful for assessing blood flow in a focal nodular lesion in the tumor cavity: A case report

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with pain in the right lower quadrant. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a 60-mm cystic mass at a site corresponding to the appendix. The mass wall on the appendicular ostium was thickened and enhanced by contrast, while calcification was observed in the mass wall on the appendicular tip. No projection was observed in the mass cavity. On abdominal ultrasonography (US), the mass wall on the appendicular ostium was thickened and projections were observed at two sites in the mass cavity. On contrast-enhanced US (CEUS), only one of these projections was enhanced. Based on the thickened and contrast-enhanced wall of the mass on the appendicular ostium on CT and US, as well as the contrast enhancement of a projection on US, the mass was diagnosed as mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix. Ileocecal resection was subsequently performed on day 10. A detailed examination of the surgical specimen revealed carcinoma cells in the mass wall on the appendicular ostium. The contrast-enhanced projection was identified as granulation tissue that had grown to come into contact with the tumor, while the non-contrast-enhanced projection was identified as solidified mucus. US enabled successful visualization of projections in the mass cavity that were not visible on abdominal CT. CEUS also proved useful for assessing blood flow in these projections.

Shiga Toxin-Producing E. Coli O104:H4 Outbreak 2011 in Germany: Radiological Features of Enterohemorrhagic Colitis

In 2011 a nationwide outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O104:H4 infection occurred in Germany with severe hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). We defined abdominal radiologic findings in these patients and correlated them with clinical parameters. 23 patients (7 men; age: 48 ± 19 years) with O104:H4 colitis and/or HUS received abdominal CT (n = 12) or radiographs (n = 11). Colonic distension, air-fluid levels, and free intraabdominal air were assessed. Colonic wall thickening, contrast enhancement, pericolic stranding, and ascites were evaluated on CT. Laboratory parameters and clinical presentation were reviewed. Chi-square test, Student's t-test, McNemar's test and Spearman correlation were performed. Colonic lumen distension was seen in 16/23 patients (69.6 %). The ascending colon (11/23 patients; 47.8 %) and transverse colon (12/23 patients; 52.2 %) were dilated significantly more often (p = 0.006 and p = 0.003, respectively) than the descending colon (1/23; 4.3 %). All 12 patients undergoing CT scanning had abnormally thickened colonic wall segments, 3 (25 %) had pancolic involvement and 9 (75 %) had segmental involvement. The descending colon was predominantly affected (11/12 patients; 91.7 %) and thickened significantly more often than other colonic segments (p < 0.001). The segmental type of STEC O104:H4 colitis mainly affects the descending colon with upstream distension of the transverse/ascending colon and differs from other types of colitis.

Small Intestinal Obstruction Caused by Anisakiasis

Small intestinal anisakiasis is a rare disease that is very difficult to diagnose, and its initial diagnosis is often surgical. However, it is typically a benign disease that resolves with conservative treatment, and unnecessary surgery can be avoided if it is appropriately diagnosed. This case report is an example of small intestinal obstruction caused by anisakiasis that resolved with conservative treatment. A 63-year-old man admitted to our department with acute abdominal pain. A history of raw fish (sushi) ingestion was recorded. Abdominal CT demonstrated small intestinal dilatation with wall thickening and contrast enhancement. Ascitic fluid was found on the liver surface and in the Douglas pouch. His IgE (RIST) was elevated, and he tested positive for the anti-Anisakis antibodies IgG and IgA. Small intestinal obstruction by anisakiasis was highly suspected and conservative treatment was performed, ileus tube, fasting, and fluid replacement. Symptoms quickly resolved, and he was discharged on the seventh day of admission. Small intestinal anisakiasis is a relatively uncommon disease, the diagnosis of which may be difficult. Because it is a self-limiting disease that usually resolves in 1-2 weeks, a conservative approach is advisable to avoid unnecessary surgery.

Black Blood MRI in Suspected Large Artery Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System

Single case reports suggest that black blood MRI (T1-weighted fat and blood suppressed sequences with and without contrast injection; BB-MRI) may visualize intracranial vessel wall contrast enhancement (CE) in primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS). In this single-center observational pilot study we prospectively investigated the value of BB-MRI in the diagnosis of large artery PACNS. Patients with suspected large artery PACNS received a standardized diagnostic program including BB-MRI. Vessel wall CE was graded (grade 0-2) by two experienced readers blinded to clinical data and correlated to the final diagnosis. Four of 12 included patients received a final diagnosis of PACNS. All of them showed moderate (grade 1) to strong (grade 2) vessel wall CE at the sites of stenosis. A moderate (grade 1) vessel wall CE grade was also observed in 6 of the remaining 8 patients in whom alternative diagnoses were made: arteriosclerotic disease (n = 4), intracranial dissection (n = 1), and Moyamoya disease (n = 1). Our pilot study demonstrates that vessel wall CE is a frequent finding in PACNS and its mimics. Larger trials will be necessary to evaluate the utility of BB-MRI in the diagnostic workup of PACNS.

The Value of Small Bowel Wall Contrast Enhancement After Sulfur Hexafluoride-Filled Microbubble Injection to Differentiate Inflammatory from Fibrotic Strictures in Patients with Crohn's Disease

We analysed the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound to differentiate inflammatory from fibrotic ileal strictures in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Twenty-eight patients (17 male and 11 female; mean age ± SD, 48.5 ± 17.17 years) with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of CD were included. In each patient, the terminal ileal loop was scanned by a convex-array probe (2–5 MHz) before and after sulphur hexafluoride-filled microbubble injection. The digital cine-clip registered after microbubble injection during the first-pass dynamic enhancement was quantified in gray-scale levels by a dedicated software through manually drawn regions-of-interest (ROIs) encompassing the anterior bowel wall. Time-intensity curves from patients with inflammatory and fibrotic ileal strictures, fitted according to the theoretical gamma variate curve, were compared. Inflammatory vs. fibrotic ileal strictures differed in the percentage of maximal enhancement (45.86 ± 5.32 vs. 37.33 ± 16.24%; p < 0.05) and area under the enhancement curve (1168.25 ± 437.65 vs. 570.47 ± 323.08; p < 0.05), whereas the difference in time to peak enhancement was found not significant (9.25 ± 4.21 vs. 12.01 ± 7.34 s; p > 0.05). The quantitative analysis of small bowel wall contrast enhancement after microbubble contrast agent injection may differentiate inflammatory from fibrotic ileal strictures in patients with CD.