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Ultrasonographic findings in Crohn’s disease

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Abstract

In recent years transabdominal bowel sonography has become a first-line modality both in the diagnosis and in the follow-up of inflammatory bowel diseases, especially Crohn’s disease, reaching values of sensitivity ranging from 84 to 93 %. In particular, its role is very useful in the early diagnosis of complications such as stenosis, phlegmons, abscesses and fistulae. According to the available literature the ability of US to provide information about disease activity is still under debate and further studies are necessary. In this regard, of fundamental importance is the use of additional techniques such as color- and power-Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The purpose of this paper is to report the main sonographic intestinal and extraintestinal findings detectable in Crohn’s disease.

Riassunto

Nel corso degli ultimi anni l’ecografia delle anse intestinali è andata affermandosi come metodica di prima linea nella diagnosi e nel follow-up delle malattie infiammatorie croniche intestinali, soprattutto nella malattia di Crohn, con valori di accuratezza diagnostica dell’84–93 %. In particolare il suo ruolo risulta preminente nella precoce diagnosi delle complicanze, quali stenosi, flemmoni, ascessi e fistole. In accordo con la letteratura disponibile più discussa rimane la capacità di fornire informazioni circa l’attività di malattia ed ulteriori studi appaiono necessari. A tal proposito è fondamentale l’utilizzo di metodiche quali color e power Doppler e l’ecografia con mezzo di contrasto (CEUS). Scopo del presente lavoro è quello di riportare i principali quadri ecografici intestinali ed extra-intestinali evidenziabili nella malattia di Crohn.

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Conflict of interest

Gabriella Carnevale Maffè, Laura Brunetti, Pietro Formagnana, Gino Roberto Corazza declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine I, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Gabriella Carnevale Maffè, Laura Brunetti, Pietro Formagnana & Gino Roberto Corazza

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  1. Gabriella Carnevale Maffè
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  2. Laura Brunetti
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  3. Pietro Formagnana
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  4. Gino Roberto Corazza
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Correspondence to Gabriella Carnevale Maffè.

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Carnevale Maffè, G., Brunetti, L., Formagnana, P. et al. Ultrasonographic findings in Crohn’s disease. J Ultrasound 18, 37–49 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-014-0096-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-014-0096-3

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