Patients with suspected IBS often undergo abdominal ultrasonography (US), computerized tomography (CT or CAT scans), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests are used primarily to diagnose non-intestinal diseases. (Although these tests also may diagnose intestinal diseases, their value for this purpose is limited. As described above, X-ray and endoscopy are better tests.)
It also is important to realize that US, CT, and MRI are powerful tests and will uncover abnormalities that are unrelated to IBS. The most common example is the finding of gallstones that, in fact, often cause no symptoms. This finding can cause a problem if the gallstones are assumed to be the source of the IBS symptoms.
The problem is that surgical removal of the gallbladder with its gallstones (cholecystectomy) is unlikely to relieve the symptoms of IBS. (Cholecystectomy would be expected to relieve only the characteristic symptoms that gallstones sometimes can cause.) Tests to exclude non-intestinal diseases may be appropriate in specific situations, although certainly not in most patients.
It also is important to realize that US, CT, and MRI are powerful tests and will uncover abnormalities that are unrelated to IBS. The most common example is the finding of gallstones that, in fact, often cause no symptoms. This finding can cause a problem if the gallstones are assumed to be the source of the IBS symptoms.
The problem is that surgical removal of the gallbladder with its gallstones (cholecystectomy) is unlikely to relieve the symptoms of IBS. (Cholecystectomy would be expected to relieve only the characteristic symptoms that gallstones sometimes can cause.) Tests to exclude non-intestinal diseases may be appropriate in specific situations, although certainly not in most patients.
