Radiological detection of pathological changes of the mucosa of the small intestine

Use of a special high molecular guar preparation in small bowel contrast studies results in a roentgenological detection of the villous architecture of the small intestine. A diffuse villous atrophy results in a loss of the normal granular pattern. Segmental loss of granular mucosal texture is found in chronic radiogenic enteritis. In active Crohn's disease a coarser diffusely distributed granular appearance of the mucous surface occurs in addition to the segmental inflammatory changes. A coarse granular mucosal pattern with only segmental involvement is seen in mild malabsorption syndrome in the upper jejunum. Radiological signs for an intestinal protein loss syndrome is a coarsened and weakly contrasted granular mucosal pattern in the lower ileum with moderate thickening of the jejunal folds and increased liquid content of the bowel. (orig.)