It is one of the goals of a scientific journal to publish a seminal paper that brings creative leaps. In 2000, Abdominal Imaging was pleased to publish an invited original scientific article by Francesca Maccioni and colleagues dealing with the innovative use of MRI in evaluating the activity of Crohn’s disease [1]. It was promptly hailed as a “landmark paper… of extreme importance… It lays the groundwork for future clinical research in the application of MRI to inflammatory disease in the small bowel” [2]. While interest and investigations by other medical centers were stimulated [3–8], Dr. Maccioni, Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Diagnostic Radiology at University La Sapienza in Rome, has continued to expand her clinical experience and deepen detailed understanding and precise correlations [9–12] (Fig. 1).
Dr. Francesca Maccioni.
The Feature Section under her Guest Editorship in this issue of Abdominal Imaging presents not only our perceptions today but also indicates the likely future developments. Notably, it transcends the barriers between radiologists and gastroenterologists and fosters a gainful integrated approach. With training in both radiology and gastroenterology, Dr. Maccioni is eminently qualified to bridge the two specialties in correlating imaging findings with clinical indices and laboratory data.
References
Maccioni F, Viscido A, Broglia L, et al. (2000) Evaluation of Crohn disease activity with magnetic resonance imaging. Abdom Imaging 25(3):219–228
Lichenstein GR, Schnall M, Herlinger H (2000) Invited commentary: MRI evaluation of Crohn disease activity. Abdom Imaging 25(3):229
Gourtsoyiannis N, Papanikolaou N, Grammatikakis J, et al. (2004) Assessment of Crohn’s disease activity in the small bowel with MR and conventional enteroclysis: preliminary results. Eur Radiol 14(6):1017–1024
Sempere GA, Martinez SV, Medina CE, et al. (2005) MRI evaluation of inflammatory activity in Crohn’s disease. AJR Am J Roentgenol 184(6):1829–1835
Florie J, Waser MN, Arts-Cieslik K, et al. (2006) Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the bowel wall for assessment of disease activity in Crohn’s disease. AJR Am J Roentgenol 186(5):1384–1392
Pupillo VA, Di Cesare E, Frieri G, et al. (2007) Assessment of inflammatory activity in Crohn’s disease by means of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Radiol Med 112(6):798–809
Del Vescovo R, Sansoni I, Caviglia R, et al. (2008) Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the terminal ileum: differentiation of activity of Crohn’s disease. Abdom Imaging 33(4):417–424
Giusti S, Faggioni L, Neri E, et al. (2010) Dynamic MRI of the small bowel: usefulness of quantitative contrast enhancement parameters and time-signal intensity curves for differentiating between active and inactive Crohn’s disease. Abdom Imaging 35(6):646–653
Maccioni F, Bruni A, Viscido A, et al. (2006) MR imaging in patients with Crohn disease: value of T2-versus T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced MR sequences with use of an oral superparamagnetic contrast agent. Radiology 238(2):517–530
Maccioni F, Mazzamurro F, Martinelli M et al (2010). Proposal of an MRI activity index for Crohn’s disease. Scientific presentation. Abstract ID: 9015491, SS J08-04. RSNA Annual Meeting 2010, Chicago
Glaudemans AWJ, Maccioni F, Mansi L, et al. (2010) Imaging of cell trafficking in Crohn’s disease. J Cell Physiol 223:562–572
Maccioni F (2010) Double-contrast magnetic resonance imaging of the small and large bowel: effectiveness in the evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease. Abdom Imaging 35(1):31–40
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meyers, M.A. Introduction to Dr. Maccioni’s Feature Section. Abdom Imaging 37, 915–916 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-012-9875-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-012-9875-5