A British society of gastrointestinal and abdominal radiology (BSGAR) multi-Centre audit of imaging investigations in inflammatory bowel disease

Taylor, Katherine, Robinson, Elizabeth, Balasubramaniam, Ravivarma, Bhatnagar, Gauraang, Taylor, Stuart A, Tolan, Damian, Wale, Anita, Zealley, Ian and Foley, Kieran 2025. A British society of gastrointestinal and abdominal radiology (BSGAR) multi-Centre audit of imaging investigations in inflammatory bowel disease. British Journal of Radiology 10.1093/bjr/tqaf050

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Abstract

Objectives To evaluate current UK practice for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) imaging against recommendations from published international literature. Methods A retrospective multi-centre audit was undertaken evaluating imaging modalities, protocols and pathways used to investigate IBD both in outpatient and inpatient settings during January-December 2022. Reporting practices and training provisions were also recorded. Results Forty-one centres contributed: 35 centres provided complete data, 6 incomplete. Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) was the most common modality for small bowel imaging across UK centres, comprising 13,099/18,784 (69.7%) investigations. There was regional variability in other modalities used, with 5 centres performing 81% of all intestinal ultrasound, and 3 centres performing 65% of all small bowel follow-through. Compared to outpatients, inpatients with suspected IBD were significantly more likely to be imaged with techniques imparting ionising radiation whether scanned either in-hours (p = 0.005) or out-of-hours (p < 0.001). Non-ionising radiation imaging modalities were significantly less available out-of-hours (p < 0.0001). Sequences included in MRE protocols were variable. Disparity in imaging follow-up for patients prescribed biologic therapies was observed. Conclusions Considerable variation in UK IBD imaging practice has been identified. Improvements must be made to reduce the regional inequality of patient access to different imaging modalities and decrease reliance on ionising radiation for inpatients. Further research to standardise and optimise imaging pathways should be undertaken to improve uniformity, with emphasis placed on training and education. Advances in Knowledge This multi-centre audit showed considerable IBD imaging practice variation between UK centres, particularly for imaging modalities used between inpatient and outpatient groups, and in-hours versus out-of-hours.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Medicine
Publisher:	British Institute of Radiology
ISSN:	0007-1285
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	12 March 2025
Date of Acceptance:	25 February 2025
Last Modified:	14 Mar 2025 15:31
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/176835

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