Role of molecular imaging in the management of patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease: State-of-the-art

Abstract

AIM

To present the current state-of-the art of molecular imaging in the management of patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed in order to find important original articles on the role of molecular imaging in the management of patients affected by IBD. The search was updated until February 2016 and limited to articles in English.

RESULTS

Fifty-five original articles were included in this review, highlighting the role of single photon emission tomography and positron emission tomography.

CONCLUSION

To date, molecular imaging represents a useful tool to detect active disease in IBD. However, the available data need to be validated in prospective multicenter studies on larger patient samples.

Keywords: White blood cell scintigraphy; Inflammatory bowel disease; Inflammation; ¹⁸F-Fluorodehoxiglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography; Molecular imaging

Core tip: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic granulomatous inflammatory condition, in which the integrity of the gut epithelium represents a major pathophysiological step. Although endoscopy and barium radiological examinations are the diagnostic “gold standard” for IBD, both techniques require a specific patient preparation, not always feasible or easily tolerated. Molecular imaging with single photon emission tomography and positron emission tomography seems to be a reliable, non-invasive, accurate and easily reproducible diagnostic tool, able to assess location, extent and activity grade of IBD. We here present the current state-of-the art of molecular imaging in the management of patients affected by IBD.