Ability of Pelvic Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Predict Clinical Course of Perianal Fistula in Paediatric Crohn's Disease Patients

Background and Aims: Evidence is limited regarding clinical course and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] features of perianal fistula [PAF] in Korean children with Crohn's disease [CD]. We investigated MRI features of PAF and associations with long-term outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 243 patients with pelvic MRI for diagnosis of CD. Incidence of clinically evident PAF at diagnosis was determined, as were the proportions of patients with clinical failure [failure to achieve fistula healing within 1 year] and recurrence [new/recurrent PAF after fistula healing within 1 year]. Associations between outcomes and MRI features, specified in modified Van Assche index and MAGNIFI-CD, were evaluated. Associations between later development of clinically evident PAF and subclinical PAF detected on MRI at diagnosis were evaluated. Results: Among 243 included patients, 108 [44.4%] and 76 131.3%] had clinically evident and subclinical PAF at diagnosis, respectively; 66.4% of the patients with clinically evident PAF achieved fistula healing within 1 year, and 32.7% of those patients developed recurrence. Fistula length and dominant features of the tracts were associated with clinical failure, and fistula length was associated with recurrence. Clinically evident PAF developed in 17.0% of the patients without clinically evident PAF at diagnosis. We did not find statistically significant association between subclinical PAF and later development of clinically evident PAF [adjusted hazard ratio, 2.438; p = 0.15]. Conclusions: A considerable proportion of Korean paediatric CD patients had clinically evident and subclinical PAF. Fistula length and dominant feature of the tract on MRI are useful predictors of outcomes.

Automated summary

This study investigated MRI features of perianal fistula in Korean children with Crohn's disease and their associations with long-term outcomes. The results showed that fistula length and dominant features of the tracts on MRI were useful predictors of outcomes, and subclinical PAF at diagnosis did not significantly affect the later development of clinically evident PAF.