Endoscopic Evaluation in the Diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis
The development of fiber-optic and video endoscopic technology has led to significant advances in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Endoscopic examination of the colonic mucosa with histologic evaluation of biopsy specimens is the gold standard for diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC). Mucosal abnormalities, discussed in Mucosal Abnormalities, provide the gastroenterologist with important diagnostic clues to the presence of UC and distinguishing UC from Crohn’s disease (CD). While endoscopic findings associated with UC may also be seen in other forms of colitis, combination of these findings with patient history and physical and laboratory results lead to confirmation of the diagnosis. In addition to the clear benefit of this technology in establishing a diagnosis, direct visualization of the colonic mucosa allows the health care provider to determine extent and severity of disease and to monitor response to therapy. Colonoscopy is also a valuable tool for detection of neoplasia that can occur in association with UC and is useful in the performance of therapeutic procedures, such as stricture dilation.5606
Capsule endoscopy is emerging as a diagnostic tool for evaluation of areas of the small bowel that cannot be viewed using conventional fiber-optic or video endoscopy. The primary utility of this technology in relation to IBD is its application to CD, and not UC, because to date this modality can only examine the small intestine and not the colon.
Content on this page was last reviewed on October 31, 2009.
Content on this page was last changed on March 19, 2009.
References:| 5606. | Kornbluth A, Sachar DB. Practice Parameters Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology. Ulcerative colitis practice guidelines in adults (update): American College of Gastroenterology, Practice Parameters Committee. Am J Gastroenterol . 2004;99(7):1371-1385. |
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