The Role of Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of Crohn’s Disease Activity

INTRODUCTION:Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory condition occurs throughout the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by segmental inflammation across the bowel wall which extends transmurally. This inflammation leads to erosions and ulcerations, culminating in complications such as strictures, penetration, obstruction, and irreversible damage to the bowel.Colonoscopy serves as the primary diagnostic procedure for evaluating CD. It effectively predicts the anatomical severity with a high degree of accuracy. CTE is the primary imaging modality for diagnosis and evaluation of CD and its complications. MR Enterography (MRE) plays a crucial role in assessment of CD, due to its noninvasiveness, superior soft tissue contrast, and absence of ionizing radiation exposure, making it particularly suitable for longitudinal monitoring of patients with CD.There is increasing interest in evaluating DWI as an important factor in assessment of CD activity.AIM OF THE STUDY:The aim of this study was to evaluate activity in Crohn's disease by using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance (DWI).