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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/11/2012 1:47 AM (GMT 0)

My question is I had a negative ct scan, but my doctor now wants me to go for a colonoscopy. Can you have a negative ct scan and still have crohns disease?

Posted 11/11/2012 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Ohhhhh yes.
Posted 11/11/2012 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
Colonoscopy is the best (and often only) way to diagnose Crohn's.
Posted 11/12/2012 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Yup. CT scans don't show color, only shape. Get a sore spot on your skin, odds are the first sign is a slight discoloration. I would imagine the same holds true for guts.
Posted 11/12/2012 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Colonoscopy to see if there's inflammation in the colon and where the small intestine starts, but a small bowel follow through for the small intestines is necessary for CD DX as well.
Posted 11/13/2012 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Absolutely!!!
Posted 11/13/2012 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
The U of Chicago is moving away from colonoscopies and using MRI's more often you'll be happy to know. Way too late for me but good for those just starting down the crohns road.
Posted 11/13/2012 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
An MRI is a lovely way to do a cancer screening of the bowel, but you still have to prep and you don't get a biopsy out of it, so what's the point for someone seeking a Crohn's diagnosis?
Posted 11/13/2012 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor (not my GI but another one) told me there was a study done (not sure where, so I know this is technically hearsay) that they took bodies of car accident victims and did an MRI before the autopsy. The MRIs on average only picked up about 60% of broken bones, torn muscles, etc. Makes me nervous to rely just on those.
Posted 11/14/2012 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hmm...interesting stuff. I'm wondering if MRI's make more sense once you already have a definite Crohn's diagnosis. But, if you really have to do the same prep, then a colonoscopy seems like it would still be the gold standard. I've never had an MRI, but when I had a CT scan, the prep was not as bad as a colonoscopy prep. And with an MRI you don't have radiation like a CT scan. Seems like if you are seeing if you are in a flare, then the MRI could visualize the whole small intestine so it would be even better than a colonoscopy. Just something to think about. If anyone has any new articles/research on this, it would be interesting.
Posted 11/14/2012 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
An MRI also reduces the risk that comes with sedation and eliminates completely the risk of an injury from the scope. AND as a friend of mine experienced, you see the whole abdomen - he had a kidney cancer discovered because of a screening MRI in lieu of a colonoscopy.
Posted 11/14/2012 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
While an MRI does reduce some risks that come with a colonoscopy, the GI can't take a biopsy for cancer screenings nor remove any polyps or do repairs. Colonosocopies have their advantages too.
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