[Ultrasound diagnosis of Crohn disease]

Abstract

In inflammatory bowel diseases sonography can depict the transformations in the bowel wall structure as well as extramural changes. Certain patterns of altered stratification can be defined which can be helpful in determining disease activity. Crohn's disease is extending very often into the mesenteries and to the serosa, omentum and peritoneum on the other side. Sonography will detect fistulas, abscesses, omental cake and ascites for example. Extraintestinal manifestations like those of the biliary tree, the pancreas, the kidneys can be seen. Color doppler sonography will be able to define disease activity. In differentiating Crohn's disease from infectious enterocolitis and diverticulitis as well as other rare disorders sonography can be useful.