Enteroclysis in the diagnosis of chronic unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding

[Gastrointestinal bleeding: the role of radiology]

Gastrointestinal bleeding represents a diagnostic challenge both in its acute presentation, which requires the point of bleeding to be located quickly, and in its chronic presentation, which requires repeated examinations to determine its etiology. Although the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding is based on endoscopic examinations, radiological studies like computed tomography (CT) angiography for acute bleeding or CT enterography for chronic bleeding are becoming more and more common in clinical practice, even though they have not yet been included in the clinical guidelines for gastrointestinal bleeding. CT can replace angiography as the diagnostic test of choice in acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding, and CT can complement the endoscopic capsule and scintigraphy in chronic or recurrent bleeding suspected to originate in the small bowel. Angiography is currently used to complement endoscopy for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

Obscure GI bleeding is a relatively common problem facing internists, gastroenterologists, and surgeons in a typical clinical practice. The etiology is occasionally suggested by the patient's age, history, and medications. Management is complicated and typically requires a team-oriented approach, with input from the internist, gastroenterologist, radiologist, and surgeon alike. SBFT and enteroclysis seem to have a limited role, unless there is a high suspicion of a small bowel mass lesion or Crohn's disease. Scintigraphy may be performed in patients with active bleeding in whom endoscopy has failed oris contraindicated. Angiography may be used in patients with an early positive nuclear imaging or failed endoscopic therapy. Provocative angiography probably has a lower diagnostic yield than previously reported, and should be performed only in experienced centers. Helical CT is a new and potentially important option in patients with obscure bleeding, but is currently considered experimental. All patients with obscure GI bleeding should undergo repeat upper endoscopy and perhaps colonoscopy to rule out missed lesions. SBE seems to be complementary to capsule endoscopy, and it is unknown whether this should be performed before capsule endoscopy or only if capsule endoscopy yields a positive proximal small bowel finding. Double balloon enteroscopy seems promising, but the technique requires further study. Surgery should be reserved for patients who have a positive capsule endoscopy requiring surgical therapy or patients who have persistent GI bleeding requiring recurrent blood transfusions in whom all other modalities have failed. Treatment for vascularectasias, the most common cause of obscure GI bleeding, is currently inadequate,and typically requires a combination of multiple management approaches.

A retrospective review of enteroclysis in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and chronic abdominal pain of undetermined etiology

Our purpose was to determine the diagnostic utility of enteroclysis in the evaluation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain of unknown etiology. This is a retrospective review of 97 consecutive patients (mean age, 54.1+/-17.5 [SD] years; 49 male and 48 female) who underwent enteroclysis at Temple University Hospital from January 1994 to October 2001 for the evaluation of obscure GI bleeding or chronic abdominal pain of undetermined etiology. Prior to enteroclysis all patients had an EGD and colonoscopy, which were nondiagnostic for their symptoms. Sixty-three patients (64.9%) had enteroscopy performed prior to enteroclysis that was also negative. Enteroclysis results were defined as positive based on anatomical or functional abnormalities. Analysis of the data included the percentage yield of positive exams, the percentage of positive results per symptom category, and the percentage of patients with a change in clinical management based on positive enteroclysis results. Ninety-seven patients underwent enteroclysis. The indications for enteroclysis were obscure GI bleeding in 67 patients (69.1%) and chronic abdominal pain in 30 patients (30.9%). The number of positive exams was 19 (19.6%). Fourteen of the 67 patients with the indication of GI bleeding had a positive exam (21%), while 5 of the 30 patients with chronic abdominal pain had a positive result (16.7%). There was a change in clinical management due to the enteroclysis results in 10 patients: 7 patients with GI bleeding (10%) and 3 patients with chronic abdominal pain (10%). Positive enteroclysis findings included adhesions (7), filling defects and masses (5), strictures (2), small bowel diverticulosis (1), mucosal abnormalities (3), and a motility disorder (1). The overall positive yield for enteroclysis was 19.6%, with a yield of 16.7% for chronic abdominal pain and 21% for gastrointestinal bleeding. Enteroclysis results changed the clinical management in approximately 10% of the patients.

Small bowel: preliminary comparison of capsule endoscopy with barium study and CT

PURPOSE

To retrospectively compare capsule endoscopic (CE) findings with findings at barium studies or computed tomography (CT) in patients without evidence of small-bowel stricture at barium examination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-two patients underwent CE, and the majority (43 of 52) did so for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Forty-two (81%) of 52 patients underwent 36 small-bowel follow-through examinations; four, enteroclysis; and 19, contrast material-enhanced CT of the abdomen and pelvis within 6 months of CE (either before or after CE). Imaging results were retrospectively reviewed and compared with CE, standard endoscopic, and surgical results. Findings of any examinations between CE and imaging that were discrepant were retrospectively reviewed by a radiologist not blinded to CE results. Proportion of positive findings at CE was compared with proportion of positive findings at barium studies and CT in the same patients. Statistical significance was calculated with McNemar chi2 statistic.

RESULTS

Barium examination findings were positive in one (3%) of 40 patients; CE findings were positive in 22 (55%) (P <.001). CT demonstrated small-bowel findings in four (21%) of 19 patients, but CE demonstrated findings in 12 (63%) of 19 patients (P =.02). The most common CE finding, angioectasia (n = 11), was not detected at any imaging study. More ulcers (n = 8) were detected with CE than with barium study (one of eight) and CT (three of six). At CE, three of five surgically confirmed masses (carcinoid, intussusception, lymphangioma) were identified, but two jejunal tumors were not detected in a patient with poor bowel preparation. At barium study, no masses (zero of five) were detected; at CT, one of four masses was detected.

CONCLUSION

In patients without a small-bowel stricture at barium study, more small-bowel disease was found at CE when findings were retrospectively compared with barium examination and CT findings.

Wireless capsule endoscopy detects small bowel ulcers in patients with normal results from state of the art enteroclysis

BACKGROUND

Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) is a new technology for small bowel imaging.

AIM

To report our initial experience with sensitivity of high quality enteroclysis in patients with small bowel ulcers detected by WCE.

METHODS

Medical records of all patients referred for WCE from December, 2001 to April, 2002 at our institution were reviewed. All patients had negative upper and lower endoscopies and small bowel barium studies before WCE.

RESULTS

There were 40 patients (19 female, mean age 57.3 yr) during this study period. Three patients had multiple small bowel ulcers detected by WCE. One with ileal ulcers and abdominal pain had an enteroclysis at another hospital before WCE. Review of the study at our institution showed that it was of excellent quality and was normal. Two patients with chronic iron deficiency anemia had multiple small bowel ulcers and were referred after WCE for a repeat small bowel barium study by biphasic enteroclysis performed by experienced GI radiologists. The radiologists were told in advance of the WCE findings. Both studies were considered technically to be of perfect quality. Despite this, both studies were negative. All 3 patients improved after therapy for Crohn's disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicates that WCE may be more sensitive for small bowel ulcers than the best enteroclysis available.

Preoperative evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with bowel obstruction

BACKGROUND

Bowel obstruction is a problematic condition because the main clinical issue is to determine whether emergency laparotomy or observation with a long tube is required. The recent development of imaging diagnostic modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is thought to be promising to support therapeutic decisions in patients with bowel obstruction.

METHODS

Twenty-seven patients with bowel obstruction who underwent laparotomy were evaluated by plain x-ray film, computed tomography (CT) scan, and MRI preoperatively with regard to the presence or absence of bowel obstruction, and the site and cause of bowel obstruction. Diagnostic accuracies were compared among these radiological modalities.

RESULTS

The presence of bowel obstruction was detected in 22 (81.5%) of 27 patients by plain abdominal x-ray film, in 24 (92.3%) of 26 patients by CT scan, and in 25 (92.6%) of 27 patients by MRI. The sites of obstruction were consistent with surgical findings in 25 (92.6%) of 27 patients by MRI, and in 15 (57.7%) of 26 patients by CT scan. The causes of bowel obstruction were accurately diagnosed by MRI in 25 (92.6%) of 27 patients, and in 23 (88.5%) of 26 patients by CT scan.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI could identify the presence and the site and cause of bowel obstruction in most of the cases. MRI is assumed to be superior to CT scan in the preoperative diagnosis of bowel obstruction.

Radiologic evaluation and staging of small intestine neoplasms

The small intestine is an uncommon location for neoplasms in either clinical or radiological practice. Because of its anatomic location and morphology, diagnosis of the diseases that affect small intestine pose difficulties. Symptoms are nonspecific and endoscopy is commonly unsatisfactory. Since early and definite diagnosis is crucial for prompt therapy, radiological imaging plays an essential role. Enteroclysis is the primary and effective radiologic modality in the evaluation of small bowel neoplasms. On the other hand, computed tomography should be the complementary radiologic method as well as for staging. In this review, the most common neoplasms of the small intestine and their common radiologic findings have been discussed.

Does a normal small-bowel enteroclysis exclude small-bowel disease? A long-term follow-up of consecutive normal studies

The purpose of our study was to determine if a normal small-bowel enteroclysis excludes small-bowel disease in adult patients, using long-term follow-up as the major reference standard. We reviewed 193 consecutive small-bowel enteroclysis (SBE) studies completed during a period from January 1987 to February 1989, of which 83 were judged to be normal at the time of the study. Eight of these latter patients were excluded due to inadequate follow-up. The indications included detection of gastrointestinal bleeding, small-bowel obstruction, Crohn's disease, nonspecific abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, and a miscellaneous group. Each patient was followed for at least 3 years by chart review or until a definite diagnosis was established. Six of the 75 patients whose SBE was originally interpreted as normal were eventually judged to have small-bowel disease. The remaining 69 patients were judged to be free of small-bowel disease by autopsy, surgical laparotomy, endoscopic observation or biopsy, or long-term follow-up for at least 3 years. Therefore, a normal SBE correctly excluded small-bowel disease in 69 of our 75 patients (true negatives) and failed to diagnose disease in six patients (false negatives), for a specificity of .92 +/- .03 (SE). In this experience, SBE was sufficiently specific in most patients to exclude small-bowel disease.

Small bowel tumours: yield of enteroscopy

A total of 258 patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding were referred for small bowel enteroscopy, a procedure which allows endoscopic evaluation of most of the small intestine. A small bowel tumour was found in 5% of patients. In 50% of patients no diagnosis could be made, but when the cause of obscure bleeding was discovered small bowel tumours were the single most common lesion in patients younger than 50 years. Small bowel tumours causing gastrointestinal bleeding may remain undetected despite extensive diagnostic evaluation. We conclude that small bowel tumours are the most common cause of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in patients less than 50 years of age. Small bowel enteroscopy is diagnostic of small bowel tumours even when all previous diagnostic studies, including enteroclysis and angiography, are negative.

Enteroclysis in the evaluation of suspected small intestinal bleeding

One hundred twenty-five consecutive enteroclysis studies performed for the indication of gastrointestinal bleeding were reviewed. The overall yield of positive studies was low (10%) but important lesions were found. Patients with unequivocally normal evaluations of the upper gastrointestinal tract and colon had the highest yield of positive enteroclysis studies (20%). Neither the specific type of bleeding, the presence or absence of abdominal symptoms or physical examination findings, nor the results of laboratory tests were associated with a positive or negative enteroclysis study.

Small bowel enteroclysis survey

A survey questionnaire was sent to 125 radiology programs to determine the frequency and indications for the use of small bowel enteroclysis. Sixty-seven of the 84 respondents perform small bowel enteroclysis while 17 do not. The 3 most common indications for enteroclysis are detection of unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, partial small bowel obstruction, and Crohn's disease. We conclude that although small bowel enteroclysis is a well-established examination, there are wide differences in the frequency with which it is performed, the techniques of examination, and indications for its use.