Kavanagh RG, O’Grady J, Carey BW, O’Connor OJ, Maher MM. Review of the role of abdominal imaging in irritable bowel syndrome. World J Radiol 2018; 10(11): 143-149 [PMID: 30568748 DOI: 10.4329/wjr.v10.i11.143]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Brian W Carey, BM BCh, Assistant Lecturer, Department of Radiology, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork T12 DC4A, Ireland. brian_carey@ucc.ie
Research Domain of This Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Radiol. Nov 28, 2018; 10(11): 143-149 Published online Nov 28, 2018. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v10.i11.143
Review of the role of abdominal imaging in irritable bowel syndrome
Richard G Kavanagh, John O’Grady, Brian W Carey, Owen J O’Connor, Michael M Maher
Richard G Kavanagh, Brian W Carey, Owen J O’Connor, Michael M Maher, Department of Radiology, Cork University Hospital, Cork T12 DC4A, Ireland
John O’Grady, Department of Gastroenterology, Cork University Hospital, Cork T12 DC4A, Ireland
John O’Grady, Owen J O’Connor, Michael M Maher, APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork T12 DC4A, Ireland
Author contributions: Kavanagh RG and Maher MM involved with study design, manuscript drafting and revising; O’Grady J and Carey BW involved with manuscript drafting and revising; O’Connor OJ involved with study design, data acquisition, manuscript drafting and revising; all authors given final approval to manuscript publication, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Brian W Carey, BM BCh, Assistant Lecturer, Department of Radiology, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork T12 DC4A, Ireland. brian_carey@ucc.ie
Telephone: +353-21-49020288
Received: July 14, 2018 Peer-review started: July 17, 2018 First decision: August 2, 2018 Revised: August 30, 2018 Accepted: October 9, 2018 Article in press: October 9, 2018 Published online: November 28, 2018
Abstract
The role of radiologic imaging in the investigation of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains a subject of debate and there is some evidence, from recent studies of utilization of imaging in IBS, which focused on associated costs and radiation exposure, that imaging is being used relatively widely in these patients. This review aims to assess current best evidence to accurately define the role of radiologic imaging in IBS patients. Primary and secondary literature searches were performed. Evidence suggests that the lack of “red flag” or alarm features in IBS patients should reassure the clinician that the diagnosis of IBS is correct and United States and United Kingdom guidelines recommend no radiologic imaging for IBS patients if alarm features are not present. In patients presenting with IBS symptoms and alarm features, radiologic testing may be used to exclude an alternative diagnosis and the imaging modality should be chosen based on the most likely alternative diagnosis.
Core tip: Radiologic imaging in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains contentious and the evidence guiding its use is limited. Recent studies indicate that imaging is being widely used in these patients. This review assesses current best evidence for the role of imaging in IBS. Primary and secondary literature searches were performed. The cornerstone of diagnosis remains the Rome criteria. Lack of “red flag” features in IBS patients should strengthen diagnosis of IBS and obviate the need for radiologic imaging. If red flag features are present, appropriate imaging may be used to exclude a suspected alternative diagnosis.
