Crohn's Disease Diagnosis and Tests
Examinations and Investigations for Inflammatory Bowel Disorder
Oct 22, 2009
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lining of the digestive system, most commonly seen in the ileum (part of the small intestine) or the colon (the large intestine). It leads to symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and weight loss, but its precise cause is not yet fully understood.
Diagnosing Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease can be difficult to diagnose, especially when it affects the small bowel. The symptoms of Crohn’s disease are similar to those of another inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis, and several tests may be needed to distinguish the two conditions. Even then, a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease may not be totally certain.
Other disorders of the gut that share symptoms with Crohn’s disease include tumours, tuberculosis, restricted blood supply to the bowel and lymphoma.
Tests for Crohn’s Disease
When a patient first consults his or her doctor with possible Crohn’s disease, he or she is likely to be referred for a series of blood tests. Inflammation produces substances that can be detected in the blood, while low levels of minerals and vitamins such as iron, potassium and folate may reveal malnutrition due to impaired absorption of nutrients from the gut. A stool sample may also be needed.
For Crohn’s disease of the large bowel, the most important test is colonoscopy. In colonoscopy, a thin, flexible tube containing a tiny video camera (an endoscope) is inserted into the bowel through the anus. The doctor performing the examination views pictures from the camera on a screen and uses these to decide how severely the gut is inflamed. A small sample of tissue may be taken from the rectum for inspection.
An endoscope cannot reach into the small bowel, so people with Crohn’s disease in this part of the gut need to have a barium enema instead. The barium helps make the small bowel stand out on X-rays, and a series of films can show the extent of the inflammation.
Sometimes, other imaging tests such as CT, MRI or an ultrasound scan are required.
After Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease
Once Crohn’s disease has been diagnosed, the patient is referred to a specialist in the condition who will devise a management plan. Although Crohn’s disease cannot be cured, diet changes, drug therapy and surgery can treat the symptoms and help prevent flares of the disease.
References:
Jewell DP. Crohn’s Disease. Medicine 2003; 31(2): 76–81.
NHS Choices. Crohn’s Disease. Accessed 22-10-09
Disclaimer
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
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