CT (or CAT) SCANs AND MRIs IN IBD

CT Scans, also called CAT scans, which stands for computer-assisted tomography, have largely replaced UGI xrays, because they can be done quickly and because they can provide far more information, not only of the intestinal tract, but also about the other organs in the abdomen. They can thus tell whether an abscess is forming and whether the wall of the intestine is swollen, or inflamed.  CT scans can be expensive at some centers and they do give off considerable radiation.   

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is similar to a CT scan in that it can look at the same areas of the abdomen, but it does that with no radiation and it can provide finer detail, even whether the disease is active or just old scarring in an area. Similar to CT scans, the patient drinks a contrast material before the test to fill and outline the bowel. the pictures are then taken and the computer manipulates them to give images than can be looked at in several different ways. While again, there's no radiation, the test can be twice as expensive as a CT scan and it's not as available at some clinics.