Focal loss of mural stratification as a radiological predictor for small bowel adenocarcinoma in Crohn's disease

Abstract

Aim: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are at higher risk of small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA). We aimed to identify radiological predictors of SBA in CD.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study at two tertiary inflammatory bowel disease centers and identified CD patients diagnosed with SBA between 2003 and 2019. Patients were matched with up to four controls. Pre-operative imaging (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT)) were reviewed by three gastrointestinal radiologists.

Results: Nineteen patients with CD-associated SBA with a mean age of 54.9 and 32 matched controls were included. Mean length of small bowel involvement was 216 (± 188) mm in the SBA group versus 156 (± 167) mm in the control group (p = 0.76). Only 11.8 % of cases had a diagnosis of SBA made preoperatively. In univariate analysis, focal loss of mural stratification (odds ratio [OR], 11; 95%CI, 2.43-49.5, p = 0.002), and wall thickening (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.05-1.66, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with SBA. After adjustment, focal loss of mural stratification was the only independent risk factor (OR, 11; 95 % CI, 2.43-49.5, p = 0.002).

Conclusions: Focal loss of mural stratification was identified as a predictor of CD-associated SBA, which should be described in imaging reports and further validated.

Keywords: Crohn's disease; Magnetic resonance enterography; Small bowel adenocarcinoma.