Imaging Inflammation and Infection in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Dec 30;21(1):243. doi: 10.3390/ijms21010243.

Abstract

A variety of seemingly non-specific symptoms manifest within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly in the colon, in response to inflammation, infection, or a combination thereof. Differentiation between symptom sources can often be achieved using various radiologic studies. Although it is not possible to provide a comprehensive survey of imaging gastrointestinal GI tract infections in a single article, the purpose of this review is to survey several topics on imaging of GI tract inflammation and infections. The review discusses such modalities as computed tomography, positron emission tomography, ultrasound, endoscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging while looking at up-an-coming technologies that could improve diagnoses and patient comfort. The discussion is accomplished through examining a combination of organ-based and organism-based approaches, with accompanying selected case examples. Specific focus is placed on the bacterial infections caused by Shigella spp., Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, Salmonella, and inflammatory conditions of diverticulitis and irritable bowel disease. These infectious and inflammatory diseases and their detection via molecular imaging will be compared including the appropriate differential diagnostic considerations.

Keywords: gastrointestinal tract; infection; inflammation; molecular imaging.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Clostridioides difficile
  • Clostridium Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Dysentery, Bacillary / diagnostic imaging
  • Endoscopy
  • Escherichia coli
  • Escherichia coli Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / diagnostic imaging*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / diagnostic imaging*
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / diagnostic imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Salmonella
  • Salmonella Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Shigella
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography