Background: The small bowel follow-through (SBFT) is a noninvasive imaging modality for evaluating terminal ileum (TI) inflammation. The accuracy of this modality in pediatric patients is not well established.
Patients and methods: We retrospectively determined the sensitivity and specificity of SBFT for detecting TI inflammation diagnosed on histology in 93 pediatric patients studied in a single institution.
Results: The mean age at the first study was 12.9 years (range 1.1-20.9 years). Forty-five percent were girls. Twenty-five patients (27%) had abnormal TIs on SBFT. Seventeen patients (18%) had TI inflammation diagnosed by biopsy. The sensitivity of SBFT was 59% and the specificity was 80% for detecting TI inflammation diagnosed on histology. Sensitivity and specificity did not change by demographic factors, final diagnoses, presenting symptoms, or laboratory parameters, reflecting the presence of intestinal inflammation.
Conclusions: The sensitivity and specificity of SBFT in pediatric patients were poor and did not vary with demographic factors, final diagnoses, presenting symptoms, or laboratory parameters. Prospective longitudinal studies comparing various imaging modalities (SBFT, magnetic resonance enterography, and capsule endoscopy) are required to determine which is the most effective tool for evaluating pediatric patients for TI inflammation.