Multidetector row CT of the small bowel

MDCT is a technique that can be applied routinely to evaluate the small bowel. Thin collimation and fast scanning allow coverage of the whole abdomen within one suspended respiration phase with the use of multiphasic IV contrast administration. These technical options provide source images for multiplanar reconstruction. Bowel distention is a key element for accurately diagnosing small bowel pathology. CT enterography or CT enteroclysis are currently used but larger studies have to determine the best application of these small bowel tailored CT protocols for different indications. MDCT of the small bowel helps to identify and stage most of the common diseases of the small bowel, such as CD, ischemia, obstruction, and neoplasms. This technique will change the paradigm for diagnosing small bowel disease by setting MDCT in the first line of diagnostic tools for almost all small bowel diseases. It has the needed sensitivity and specificity and the availability and safety for a front-line diagnostic method.