Abstract
Background
Due to the development of double-balloon enteroscopy and video capsule endoscopy, direct visualization of the entire small intestinal mucosa has been achieved. Compared with video capsule endoscopy, double-balloon enteroscopy has the advantages of biopsy samples and endoscopic treatment. The aim of this research was to explore the value of double-balloon enteroscopy for isolated small bowel Crohn’s disease.
Methods
This study included patients with suspected isolated small bowel Crohn’s disease who were hospitalized in Shengjing Hospital from April 2014 to June 2018. We included patients with symptoms of chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal mass, perianal lesions, and systemic symptoms including weight loss, fever, and anemia after excluding infection factors. Patients with purely colonic Crohn’s disease were excluded from this cohort. Patients with suspected isolated small bowel Crohn’s disease underwent double-balloon enteroscopy.
Results
With clear endoscopic images and histological support, 14 patients were diagnosed with isolated small bowel Crohn’s disease. Three patients who were diagnosed with small bowel Crohn’s disease by double-balloon enteroscopy showed improved morphological features of the small bowel when the double-balloon enteroscopy was reviewed after medical treatment.
Conclusions
The diagnosis of Crohn’s disease is usually based on the patient’s clinical history and related examinations. Double-balloon enteroscopy provides imaging support and histological support for the definitive diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and can be considered as a useful tool to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy in the future.
Complimentary Imaging Modalities for Investigating Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Capsule Endoscopy, Double-Balloon Enteroscopy, and Computed Tomographic Enterography
