OBJECTIVETo explore the value of magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) for diagnosis of small intestinal diseases in children.

METHODA total of 92 children who received MRE from July 2009 to January 2014 were included into this study. The clinical value of MRE in children was evaluated by describing the image presentation of MRE based on clinical diagnosis.

RESULTAll the 92 cases (average age was nine year and one month, among whom 61 were boys, and 31 were girls) received MRE examination with good tolerance and had no complications. Eleven cases (12%) did not show good distension of small bowel loop during MRE and could not evaluate the bowel wall pathologies correctly. A total of 66 cases (72%) showed pathological MRE images. All patients with Crohn's disease showed pathological gut and 53% (16/30) showed extramural changes with MRE, 97% (29/30) showed colon lesions with colonoscopy, 73% (20/22) showed small intestine lesions with capsule endoscopy. All patients with intestinal obstruction (7 cases) showed abnormal gut distension, 4 of whom showed obstruction point. Five patients with small intestinal neoplasms showed the mass with MRE. One of the patients with intestinal tuberculosis showed enlarged lymph nodes with ring strengthening. Nine cases with eosinophilic gastroenteritis (75%) and 1 case of gastrointestinal bleeding showed increased contrast enhancement for small bowel. The main finding of MRE were abnormal wall thickening and enhancement, gut stricture, bowel expansion, etc.

CONCLUSIONMRE for children was safe and reliable. It can be a suitable method for determining the location and extent of gut for small intestinal diseases, especially suitable for Crohn's disease in children.