A CORK research group has developed a new protocol for scanning patients with Crohn’s disease which significantly reduces their radiation exposure while retaining diagnostic accuracy.
The development is good news for patients with the chronic bowel disease who often require repeated CT (computed tomography) scans to assess the complications of the condition. Crohn’s disease is a lifelong, relapsing and remitting disorder which may affect any part of the bowel.
While imaging strategies that do not involve radiation, such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), are being explored, the recommended imaging in many situations remains CT scanning. However, the downside to traditional CT scans is radiation, which might become hazardous, particularly if repeated scanning is required, the researchers point out.
Clinician scientists in Cork have collaborated to devise a new CT scanning protocol, using recently developed computer software, for imaging of the abdomen and pelvis in patients with Crohn’s disease which has resulted in the lowest doses of diagnostic radiation ever reported in this clinical setting, while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
The research was carried out at Cork University Hospital and the Science Foundation Ireland-funded Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre at University College Cork and has been reported in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
The Cork group first identified a potential problem with diagnostic radiation exposure and previously reported that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly those with Crohn’s disease, but also including other gastrointestinal disorders, may be exposed to high levels of radiation – mostly from abdominal/pelvic computed tomography (CT) scans. The new CT protocol was compared with conventional CT and was found to cut radiation exposure by over 70 per cent from that of a conventional abdominal/pelvic CT scan without loss of diagnostic accuracy.
“This is good news for patients with Crohn’s disease, particularly those who need repeat CT scanning for management of the complications of their illness. This research is an important step forward and is already changing clinical practice,” said Prof Fergus Shanahan, one of the authors of the scientific article.
Prof Michael Maher, who led the research, said the most important result was that their direct comparative trial of low versus conventional dose CT scanning showed they could retain diagnostic accuracy while reducing radiation exposure. He stressed that the results applied only to Crohn’s disease and could not be extrapolated to other conditions at this stage.
