5 research outputs found
A pilot study of transrectal endoscopic ultrasound elastography in inflammatory bowel disease
BACKGROUND:
Using standard diagnostic algorithms it is not always possible to establish the correct phenotype of inflammatory bowel
disease which is essential for therapeutical decisions. Endoscopic ultrasound elastography is a new endoscopic procedure
which can differentiate the stiffness of normal and pathological tissue by ultrasound. Therefore, we aimed to investigate
the role of transrectal ultrasound elastography in distiction between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. ----- METHODS:
A total 30 Crohn's disease, 25 ulcerative colitis, and 28 non-inflammatory bowel disease controls were included. Transrectal
ultrasound elastography was performed in all patients and controls. In all ulcerative coltis patients and 80% of Crohn's
disease patients endoscopy was performed to assess disease activity in the rectum. ----- RESULTS:
Significant difference in rectal wall thickness and strain ratio was detected between patients with Crohn's disease and
controls (p = 0.0001). CD patients with active disease had higher strain ratio than patients in remission (p = 0.02). In
ulcerative colitis group a significant difference in rectal wall thickness was found between controls and patients with
active disease (p = 0.03). A significant difference in rectal wall thickness (p = 0.02) and strain ratio (p = 0.0001) was
detected between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patient group. Crohn's disease patients with active disease had a
significantly higher strain ratio compared to ulcerative colitis patients with active disease (p = 0.0001). ----- CONCLUSION:
Transrectal ultrasound elastography seems to be a promising new diagnostic tool in the field of inflammatory bowel
disease. Further study on a larger cohort of patients is needed to definitely assess the role of transrectal ultrasound
elastography in inflammatory bowel disease