Abdominal scans (CT/MRI/MRE/MRCP/US)
There are a variety of scanning techniques that doctors can use to record images of what’s happening inside your body. For digestive health, the focus is inevitably on the abdomen (your belly). Abdominal scans are usually indicated in patients with tummy pain to look at different organs inside your belly, such as the small bowel, liver, bile ducts, gall bladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and uterus, among others. This is so we can find the cause of the abdominal pain.
Computed tomography (CT)
A CT scan uses a large X-ray machine to take a series of cross-sectional images as you pass through the machine on a horizontal platform. CT scans are more commonly used than MRI scans and may be used to check for problems such as tumours and internal bleeding.
CT colonography
A CT colonography (also known as a virtual colonoscopy) uses a CT scan to check the bowel and rectum (back passage) for the presence of cancer or bowel polyps. It is less invasive than a colonoscopy, as it doesn’t involve inserting a tube (endoscope) all the way around the colon. It may be offered to you if you are unable to have a colonoscopy.
However, it is not recommended if you have:
- An active flare-up of inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Diverticulitis and diverticulosis
- Recently had abdominal surgery
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
MRI tests use a combination of a magnetic field and radio waves to build up highly detailed images of the inside of your body, making it an excellent procedure for diagnosing a wide range of diseases.
Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE)
An MRE test combines MRI with low-frequency vibrations. These help to show areas in body tissues that may be stiffer than others, which can be used to identify formations of internal scarring.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
An MRCP test is another variation of MRI, which is used to produce detailed images of the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas and pancreatic duct.
Ultrasound (US)
A US or sonogram is a more straightforward type of imaging scan that uses high-frequency sound waves to show structures inside the body on a real-time display. The ultrasound probe may be used externally (on the skin) or internally (such as in a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope).
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