Guidelines for Imaging to Assess Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Joint European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) and European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) evidence-based consensus guidelines have been published online in the Journal of Crohn's and Colitis. 

Endoscopy is a well-established and uniformly performed diagnostic examination for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the use of radiologic technique for assessment of IBD is still variable. ECCO and ESGAR have jointly developed a consensus to establish standards for imaging in IBD using magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasonography, and including other radiologic procedures such as conventional radiology or nuclear medicine examinations for different clinical situations that include general principles, upper GI tract, colon and rectum, perineum, liver and biliary tract, emergency situation, and the postoperative setting. 

The guidelines are based on the highest level of evidence available, but significant gaps remain in certain areas such as the comparison of diagnostic accuracy between different techniques, the value for therapeutic monitoring, and the prognostic implications of particular findings.

Imaging techniques for assessment of inflammatory bowel disease: Joint ECCO and ESGAR evidence-based consensus guidelines. J. Panes, Y. Bouhnik, W. Reinisch et al. Journal of Crohn's and Colitis. Published online 15 April 2013.