Table 1.
Techniques | Advantages | Limitations | Future developments | Recommendations |
---|---|---|---|---|
CT scan | Easily available Noninvasive |
Lack of specificity Irradiant Nephrotoxic |
Not planned | Eventually |
| ||||
MRI | Nonirradiant Noninvasive |
Lack of specificity Expensive Hardly available |
Not planned | Not recommended |
| ||||
US | Noninvasive Easily available Cheap |
Lack of specificity | Not planned | Not recommended |
| ||||
CEUS | Sensitive Specific Noninvasive |
Limited to lower GI acute GVHD Specific device Trained physician |
Prospective studies | Not available in routine |
| ||||
PET/CT | Sensitive Specific Early detection Noninvasive |
Expensive Irradiant |
Prospective studies | Useful in some patients |
| ||||
WCE | Noninvasive Sensitive |
Bowel preparation Lack of specificity |
Prospective studies | Useful in some patients |
| ||||
eCLE and pCLE | Sensitive Specific Early detection |
Invasive Specific device Trained physician |
Prospective studies | Not available in routine |
CT scan: computed tomography scan; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; US: ultrasonography; CEUS: contrast-enhanced ultrasound; GI acute GVHD: gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease; WCE: wireless video-capsule endoscopy; eCLE: endoscope-based confocal laser endomicroscopy; pCLE: probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy.