[Current approaches to morphological diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases from endoscopic biopsy specimens]

Abstract

Morphological diagnosis of childhood inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) from colonic biopsy specimens presents great difficulties. A definitive morphological diagnosis can be made in not more than half the patients with suspected IBD who are referred for colonoscopy. Unclassified colitis has to be diagnosed in more than 25% of cases. When this term is used, it is desirable to additionally state that the colitis cannot be classified between nonspecific ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease or the differential diagnosis should include a wider spectrum of chronic colitides. The similar situation always calls for in-depth interdisciplinary discussion and a further follow-up of the patient.