Cross-sectional imaging of inflammatory bowel disease.

The cross-sectional imaging modalities provide an important diagnostic perspective in patients with inflammatory bowel disease that often has a profound influence on the therapeutic decision-making process. They can directly and noninvasively image infectious and inflammatory complications involving the bowel wall, serosa, and mesentery that can only be assessed indirectly by colonoscopy and barium studies. At the present time, CT is superior to ultrasound and MR in diagnosing these extramucosal complications.