| Theme | Imaging modalities for IBD | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Transabdominal ultrasonography for inflammatory bowel disease | |
| Publish Date | 2014/03 | |
| Author | Katsuki Yaguchi | Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center |
| Author | Reiko Kunisaki | Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center |
| Author | Hideaki Kimura | Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center |
| Author | Akiho Hanzawa | Department of Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Investigation, Yokohama City University Medical Center |
| Author | Misato Jin | Department of Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Investigation, Yokohama City University Medical Center |
| Author | Naomi Shibata | Department of Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Investigation, Yokohama City University Medical Center |
| Author | Hiromi Yonezawa | Department of Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Investigation, Yokohama City University Medical Center |
| Author | Kazushi Numata | Gastroenterological Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center |
| Author | Shin Maeda | Department of Gastroenterology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] | Transabdominal ultrasonography (US) is a useful technique for assessing bowel inflammation. Ultrasound has the advantage of being low cost, easy to perform without prior preparation and a non-invasive procedure. Abdominal ultrasound appears to be helpful in monitoring treatment success. Initial data suggests that ultrasound may help to predict the course of diseases. However, difficulties with evaluation of bowel segments located for from skin surface and high interobserver variability present significant drawbacks. There is a low degree of specificity in diff erentiating IBD from other causes of colonic inflammation. Diff erentiation between inflammatory and fibrostenotic strictures is crucial in the choice of therapy. However, the diagnostic value of current techniques for making this distinction has not been fully evaluated. Use of contrast enhanced abdominal US and Doppler US may be valuable in determining disease activity within strictures. However, the prognostic value of all these findings for response to medical treatment is still under investigation. Further prospective, multi-center studies are required. | |