Determination of intramural fat existence with 3-tesla MR interography and evaluation of the relationship with the stage of the disease-chronic process

In this study; we aimed to show the efficacy of fat images of the DIXON and CAIPIRINHA methods in MR in detecting intramural fat accumulation and the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and their contributions in the follow-up of patients. Eighty-five patients who had an MR enterography exam were included in our study. The clinical data of these 85 patients, the results of the ileo-colonoscopy of 43 and pathology results of 44 of them were used. There was less than 6 months between ileo-colonoscopy and pathology examinations and MR enterography imaging. MR enterography data such as affected segments, segment lengths, wall thickness, and edematous signal increase, ADC values, findings in contrast-enhanced series, diffusion-weighted imaging findings, presence of segment containing intramural fat and retained lengths were examined. These MR enterography findings and disease age, ileo-colonoscopy results, and pathology findings were compared statistically with each other. According to the results of MR enterography, fat-containing segment lengths of patients with chronic active inflammation and chronic inflammation were found to be longer than those with active inflammation. The presence of intramural fat was more common in those with chronic active inflammation than others. It was found that patients with intramural fat had a longer disease duration than patients without fat. It was found that patients whose pathology results were reported as active inflammation contained less intramural fat than others. Presence of intramural fat indicates chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The DIXON and CAIPIRINHA methods are very easy, fast, and useful in detecting this. Keyword: Intramural fat, CAIPIRINHA, DIXON, inflammatory bowel diseases, MR enterography.