RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Transabdominal bowel sonography for the detection of intestinal complications in Crohn’s disease
JF Gut
JO Gut
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Society of Gastroenterology
SP 112
OP 117
DO 10.1136/gut.44.1.112
VO 44
IS 1
A1 Gasche, C
A1 Moser, G
A1 Turetschek, K
A1 Schober, E
A1 Moeschl, P
A1 Oberhuber, G
YR 1999
UL http://gut.bmj.com/content/44/1/112.abstract
AB Background The course of Crohn’s disease is characterised by the occurrence of intestinal complications such as strictures, intra-abdominal fistulas, or abscesses. Standard diagnostic procedures may fail to show these complications, in particular fistulas.Aims To test the value of transabdominal bowel sonography (TABS) for the detection of intestinal complications in Crohn’s disease.Methods TABS was prospectively performed in 213 patients with Crohn’s disease in a university based inflammatory bowel disease referral centre. Thirty three underwent resective bowel surgery and were included in this study. The accuracy of TABS to detect strictures, intra-abdominal fistulas, or abscesses was compared with surgical and pathological findings.Results TABS was able to identify strictures in 22/22 patients and to exclude it in 10/11 patients (100% sensitivity, 91% specificity). Fistulas were correctly identified in 20/23 patients and excluded in 9/10 patients (87% sensitivity, 90% specificity). Intra-abdominal abscesses were correctly detected in 9/9 patients and excluded in 22/24 patients (100% sensitivity, 92% specificity).Conclusions In experienced hands TABS is an accurate method for the detection of intestinal complications in Crohn’s disease. TABS is thus recommended as a primary investigative method for evaluation of severe Crohn’s disease.TABStransabdominal bowel sonography