Indeterminate colitis: a review of the concept--what's in a name?

The precise diagnosis of colitis cannot always be established with the available diagnostic tools. The subgroup of patients with an uncertain diagnosis has been classified as "indeterminate colitis" (IC). The definition of "indeterminate," however, has changed over the years. Originally, IC was proposed by pathologists for colectomy specimens, usually from patients operated on for severe colitis, showing overlapping features of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Later, the same terminology was used for patients showing no clear clinical, endoscopic, histologic, and other features allowing a diagnosis of either UC or CD. Therefore, it is difficult to compare different studies. An International Organization of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IOIBD) working party confirmed 1) the ambiguous nature of the term, and 2) proposes an updated classification for the category of patients with an unclear diagnosis. According to this, the term IBD unclassified (IBDU) is confirmed, as suggested by the Montreal Working Party 2005 for patients with clinically chronic colitis, that clearly have IBD but when definitive features of CD or UC are absent. In resected specimens the term "colitis of uncertain type or etiology" (CUTE) is preferred. It is accepted that most of the time this may have a prefix, such as severe, chronic. The classification of IBD varies when based only on biopsies rather than on a colectomy specimen. The vast majority of these have severe colitis. For those that cannot bear to abandon the highly ambiguous term IC, if it is used at all, this is where it can be used parenthetically.     

The value of serologic markers in indeterminate colitis: a prospective follow-up study

BACKGROUND & AIMS: In the absence of pathognomonic markers for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease depends on a compendium of clinical, radiographic, endoscopic, and histologic criteria that bears imperfect specificity to the individual disorders. In 10% of cases of colitis, no differentiation can be made between CD and UC; these patients are diagnosed with indeterminate colitis (IC). We evaluated the value of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) to increase diagnostic accuracy in categorizing IC. METHODS: Since 1996, 97 patients with IC from 3 centers (Leuven, Lille, and Vienna) were enrolled, analyzed for pANCA and ASCA, and followed up prospectively. RESULTS: A definitive diagnosis has been reached for 31 of 97 patients (32%). In these patients, ASCA+/pANCA- correlated with CD in 8 of 10 patients, whereas ASCA-/pANCA+ correlated with UC in 7 of 11 patients. The remaining 4 cases became CD, clinically behaving as UC-like CD. Almost half of the patients (47 of 97 [48.5%]) were negative for ASCA and pANCA, and 40 remain diagnosed with IC to date. Only 7 seronegative cases (14.9%) became CD or UC compared with 48% (24 of 50) of seropositive patients (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Results so far show that ASCA+/pANCA- predicts CD in 80% of patients with IC and ASCA-/pANCA+ predicts UC in 63.6%. Interestingly, 48.5% of patients do not show antibodies against ASCA or pANCA. Most of these patients remain diagnosed with IC during their further clinical course, perhaps reflecting a distinct clinicoserological entity.     

Clinical features and pattern of indeterminate colitis: Crohn's disease with ulcerative colitis-like clinical presentation

Background.Although an accurate diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and differentiation between ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) can be made in most patients, it is sometimes impossible to distinguish UC from CD even after thorough pathological study. Recently, clinicians have used the term indeterminate colitis (IC) for patients with features of both diseases that overlap temporarily or persistently. The frequency, reasons, and outcome of patients with a clinical diagnosis of IC based on radiological, endoscopic, and histopathological findings were investigated retrospectively. Methods. Based on records of 735 patients with IBD, IC was defined as having features of both UC and CD, with differentiation from each other impossible at least once during the observation period (average 6.8 years) based on diagnostic criteria using endoscopic, radiological, and histological findings. Results. Twenty-three patients were identified as having IC. They were classified into three patterns according to the clinical cource and the final diagnosis: (1) UC changing to CD (n = 8); (2) CD changing to UC (n = 5); and (3) UC or CD (n = 10). The frequency of IC was 24.5%–43.4% of colitis-type CD (n = 53), 2.3%–6.5% of all CD (n = 352), and 3.1% of IBD (n = 735). The reasons for the indetermination were temporary (56.5%) or persistent (43.5%) overlapping of UC-like and CD-like presentations. Treatment of IC was inappropriate in only two patients, and the prognoses of all patients except one were fairly good. Conclusions. Overlapping of UC-like presentations (persistent bloody stool and diffuse colitis) was frequently observed with Crohn's colitis but less so in CD patients during their clinical course. The basis of differentiation and treatment of IC needs more attention.     

缺血性结肠炎与溃疡性结肠炎临床表现及内镜特点的对比分析

目的 比较缺血性结肠炎(IC)与溃疡性结肠炎(UC)临床及内镜表现的差异,研究对两者的鉴别以利对其的诊断和治疗.方法 回顾分析2007年1月～2010年8月诊断为IC 30例和UC 40例患者的资料,重点分析两者在年龄分布、性别构成、病程、基础疾患、临床和内镜表现及病理诊断的异同点.结果 IC组和UC组在年龄分布、病...     

溃疡性结肠炎与感染性结肠炎综合积分的研究

目的：比较溃疡性结肠炎(UC)与感染性结肠炎(IC)在临床、内镜及组织学等方面的不同，为鉴别UC和IC提供量化的综合鉴别指标，建立积分标准。方法：将1996-2001年在四川大学华西医院住院诊断明确的127例UC和143例IC患者作为研究对象，建立鉴别UC与IC的积分系统。结果：临床积分标准(包括实验室检查)ROC曲线下面积0．990，Youden指数0．903，敏感性为94．5％，特异性为95．8％。组织学表现积分各值分别为0．978、0．864、93．5％和92．9％。临床和内镜综合积分各值分别为0．997、0．954、97．8％、和97．6％。临床、内镜及组织学综合积分各值分别为0．999、0．976、100％和97．6％。结论：通过量化UC和IC临床表现、实验室检查、内镜、组织学等各项有鉴别意义的指标而建立的UC积分诊断标准具有良好的诊断价值。     

Gastrointestinal endoscopy biopsy derived proteomic patterns predict indeterminate colitis into ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis

Patients with indeterminate colitis (IC) are significantly younger at diagnosis with onset of symptoms before the age of 18 years with significant morbidity in the interim. The successful care of IC is based on microscopic visual predict precision of eventual ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s colitis (CC) which is not offered in 15%-30% of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients even after a combined state-of-the-art classification system of clinical, visual endoscopic, radiologic and histologic examination. These figures have not changed over the past 3 decades despite the introduction of newer diagnostic modalities. The patient outcomes after restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis may be painstaking if IC turns into CC. Our approach is aiming at developing a single sensitive and absolute accurate diagnostic test tool during the first clinic visit through endoscopic biopsy derived proteomic patterns. Matrix-assisted-laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MS) and/or imaging MS technologies permit a histology-directed cellular test of endoscopy biopsy which identifies phenotype specific proteins, as biomarker that would assist clinicians more accurately delineate IC as being either a UC or CC or a non-IBD condition. These novel studies are underway on larger cohorts and are highly innovative with significances in differentiating a UC from CC in patients with IC and could lend mechanistic insights into IBD pathogenesis.     

Indeterminate colitis: a significant subgroup of pediatric IBD

BACKGROUND: Indeterminate colitis (IC) is a subgroup of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that cannot be characterized as either ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). Our aims are to determine the prevalence of IC in our pediatric patient population and to describe its clinical presentation, natural history,and disease distribution. METHODS: We performed a retrospective database analysis of all children diagnosed with IBD at the Johns Hopkins Children's IBD Center between 1996 and 2001. Patient demographics, including age, sex, and age at disease onset, were tallied. Disease distribution was identified on the basis of a review of all endoscopic, colonoscopic, histopathological, and radiological records. All of the patients were followed up clinically to determine the extent of disease progression on the basis of the initial diagnosis of IC. RESULTS: Among 250 children registered in the database, 127 (50.8%) had a diagnosis of CD, 49 (19.6%) had UC, and 74(29.6%) had IC. Patients with IC had a significantly younger mean +/- SEM age (9.53 +/- 4.8 years) at diagnosis compared with patients with CD (12.4 +/- 3.8 years; P < 0.001) but not compared with patients with UC (7.41 +/- 3.5 years). Among the patients with IC, 59 (79.7%) had a pancolitis at diagnosis, and the remaining 15 had left-sided disease that progressed to a pancolitis within a mean of 6 years. Twenty-five patients (33.7%) with an initial diagnosis of IC were reclassified to either CD or UC after a median follow-up of 1.9 years (range 0.6-4.5 years). Forty-nine patients (66.2%) maintained their diagnosis of IC after a mean follow-up of 7 years (SEM 2.5 years). CONCLUSIONS: IC is a distinct pediatric subgroup of IBD with a prevalence that is higher than that observed in adults. Children with IC have an early age of disease onset and a disease that rapidly progresses to pancolitis. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the clinical implications of this pediatric IBD subgroup.     

Inflammatory bowel disease in African Americans

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are idiopathic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The two disorders encompass a wide spectrum of clinical presentations and are diagnosed on the basis of their clinical, endoscopic, radiologic, and histologic features. Combined, the two disorders affect approximately 800,000 patients in the United States. An assessment of the epidemiology of these disorders is complicated by a wide range of factors including the absence of population based registries in ethnically diverse regions, the use of retrospective data, and highly variable clinical presentations which may delay or obscure the diagnosis. In this paper we review the available data regarding the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease in African Americans.     

缺血性结肠炎与溃疡性结肠炎临床诊断对比分析

目的对比分析缺血性结肠炎及溃疡性结肠炎临床特点与组织病理学的差异,为临床鉴别诊断提供依据。方法收集广西医科大学第一附属医院2010~2013年20例缺血性结肠炎及30例溃疡性结肠炎患者性别、病程、年龄、基础疾病史、临床表现,肠镜结果及病理特点等资料,并进行对比分析。结果缺血性结肠炎发病以60岁以上老年人为主,起病急,病程短,多伴有高血压、糖尿病等基础疾病,溃疡性结肠炎以中青年患者为主,病程长,伴随基础疾病较少见,前者临床表现以腹胀、呕吐多见,后者以黏液血便及里急后重症状较多见。缺血性结肠炎肠镜下病变较少累及直肠,多出现黏膜水肿,溃疡多呈纵行,溃疡性结肠炎常累及直肠,常合并炎性假息肉,溃疡以地图状为主,病变部位呈连续性。病理上,缺血性结肠炎以血管扩张充血、间质水肿及血管壁增厚多见,而炎性细胞浸润及隐窝脓肿较少见。结论结合年龄、既往病史、临床症状及内镜、组织病理学检查结果,有助于缺血性结肠炎与溃疡性结肠炎的鉴别诊断。     

缺血性结肠炎与溃疡性结肠炎的临床鉴别诊断

背景:缺血性结肠炎(IC)与溃疡性结肠炎(UC,左半结肠型)在临床和内镜表现上有一定相似之处,对于临床表现不典型者,初步诊断颇具难度。目的:分析IC与UC的临i床鉴别诊断要点。方法:收集武汉大学中南医院2008年1月～2009年12月确诊为IC或UC左半结肠炎的住院患者,对其病史资料进行回顾性分析。结果:21例IC和25例UC患者纳入研究。IC患者以老年女性居多,病程相对较短,常伴有高血压和糖尿病,最突出的临床表现为突发腹痛后24 h内出现便血,贫血少见;UC患者的主要临床表现为黏液血便伴腹痛,贫血常见。IC病变多仅累及单一肠段,直肠受累少见,溃疡小而表浅,病理学表现为慢性炎,隐窝炎罕见;UC病变多起源于直肠,呈连续性,溃疡弥漫,病理学表现为慢性炎伴多种炎性细胞浸润,隐窝炎、隐窝脓肿常见。结论:根据性别、年龄、病程以及临床、实验室、内镜和病理检查结果进行综合分析,有助于IC与U C的鉴别诊断。     

Pitfalls in the interpretation of nonneoplastic mucosal biopsies in inflammatory bowel disease

This review provides a summary of common diagnostic problems encountered by both pathologists and gastroenterologists when evaluating patients with diarrhea and in whom inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is suspected. The two most common forms of IBD, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), may, in certain settings, show overlapping endoscopic and pathologic features, potentially resulting in diagnostic confusion. For instance, some cases of UC may show unusual CD-like features, such as rectal sparing, discontinuous disease, aphthous ulceration, ileal or extracolonic involvement, and granulomatous inflammation, all of which may be evident in mucosal biopsy specimens. CD may also present as a diffuse, superficial pancolitis with ileal sparing that mimics the endoscopic and histologic appearance of UC. Furthermore, other forms of colitis, such as microscopic colitis, diverticulitis, diversion colitis, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced colonic injury may also show IBD-like changes in mucosal biopsies. The potential diagnostic pitfalls faced by physicians, as well as features that aid in the distinction among these entities, are discussed in detail in this review.     

Reevaluation of Clinical Features of Ischemic Colitis Analysis of 68 Consecutive Cases Diagnosed by Early Colonoscopy

Background: Ischemic colitis (IC) is generally considered a disease of elderly patients who have associated diseases. The aim of the present study was to reevaluate the clinical features of IC. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics, background, and endoscopic and histologic changes in 68 consecutive patients (16 men and 52 women) with this disease diagnosed by early colonoscopy. Results: The patients' age ranged from 22 to 98 years (mean, 55 years). Twenty-three patients (34%, including 19 women) were less than 50 years of age. The classical predisposing factors were not discernible in patients younger than 50. Chronic constipation and prior history of abdominal surgery were common in both young and old patients. Early colonoscopy (especially by the 3rd day from onset) showed endoscopic and histologic findings consistent with the characteristics of IC. Conclusions: IC is not limited only to the elderly, and it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of colitis with melena in younger patients, especially females, who do not have any predisposing factors. Chronic constipation and prior history of abdominal surgery were commonly associated in both young and old patients. Early colonoscopy, especially by the 3rd day from the clinical onset, is essential for the accurate diagnosis of IC.     

Colorectal adenocarcinoma in Crohn's disease

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to review all histopathologic sections from surgical specimens with inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal carcinoma filed at this hospital between 1951 and 1996. METHOD: A total of 40 surgical (n=39) or autopsy (n=1) colon or colorectal specimens were reviewed. Internationally accepted histologic criteria were strictly applied to differentiate Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and indeterminate colitis (IC). RESULTS: Of the 40 specimens with inflammatory bowel disease and carcinoma, 22 (55 percent) had CD, 16 (40 percent) had UC, and the remaining 2 (5 percent) had IC. Males accounted for 72.7 percent or 16 of the 22 patients with colorectal carcinoma in CD and for 68.7 percent or 11 of the 16 patients with carcinoma in UC. Both patients with IC and carcinoma were males. The median age of patients at diagnosis was as follows: CD, 20 (range, 7–68) years; UC, 23 (range, 5–21) years. In IC, the age was 61 and 81 years, respectively. The median disease duration (before detection of colorectal cancer) was as follows: CD, 18.5 (range, 1–45) years; UC, 19 (range, 6–38) years. For cases with IC, it was 13 and 19 years, respectively. Median age of patients at cancer diagnosis was as follows: CD, 48 (range, 21–78) years; UC, 49 (range, 21–81) years. Ages at cancer diagnosis in IC were 68 and 81 years. Colorectal carcinoma tend to develop among relatively young patients with CD and UC. Mucinous adenocarcinomas accounted for approximately one-third of the carcinomas affecting CD. Thirty percent of old specimens (before the end of 1982) had in fact carcinoma complicating CD and not UC (the latter being the diagnosis appearing in old pathologic reports). During a time lapse of 38 years (i.e.,between 1951 and 1989), only 11 cases of colorectal CD with carcinoma (i.e.,0.2 cases/year) were found, but as many as 11 during the past 6.5 years (i.e.,1.7 cases/year) have been diagnosed. Only 42.3 percent (11/26) of cases with colorectal inflammatory bowel disease and carcinoma operated on between 1951 and the end of 1989 had Crohn's colitis but as many as 78.6 percent (11/14) of those operated on between 1990 and May 1996 had Crohn's colitis. Review of the literature indicated that 64.8 percent or 191 of the 295 cases of colorectal carcinomas in CD so far reported occurred in the past 6.5 years. It would seem as if the risk of colorectal carcinoma in Crohn's colitis has increased in later years. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Reports on cancer frequency in UC based on old histopathologic records should be subjected to critical histologic re-evaluation; 2) carcinoma in Crohn's colitis has increased at this hospital, particularly since 1990; 3) the surveillance program strategy used in patients with long-standing UC at this hospital should also embrace patients with Crohn's colitis.Supported by the Cancer Society and the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.     

A CASE OF INDETERMINATE COLITIS UNDERGOING SUBTOTAL COLECTOMY

The nomenclature inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) generally defines ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). However, we sometimes find patients who cannot be diagnosed as UC or CD, because of the presence of both characteristics. These cases have been reported as indeterminate colitis (IC) since the first report in 1978. In our department, we have experienced IBD since 1993 (366 cases of CD), but only three cases were diagnosed as IC. Of the three, we report here the clinical and pathological features of a patient who was followed up since the diagnosis. The case was a 19‐year‐old Japanese woman without any particular past history. In December 1997, she was admitted to our hospital complaining of abdominal pain, high fever, diarrhea and fresh blood in the stool. Based on the findings of various tests, we made a diagnosis of IC, and started to treat her with prednisolone intravenous injection (i.v) at a dose of 40 mg per day. Because symptoms and signs of inflammation relapsed frequently, it was judged that there was a relative indication for surgical operation. She underwent subtotal colectomy with end‐to‐end ileorectal anastomosis on 6 January 2002. On the histopathological examination of surgical specimens, several characteristics of both UC and CD were observed. Therefore, we finally diagnosed this case as IC. After operation, she has not experienced a relapse so far and maintained fair physical condition.     

Increasing incidences of inflammatory bowel disease and decreasing surgery rates in Copenhagen City and County, 2003-2005: a population-based study from the Danish Crohn colitis database

OBJECTIVES: A continuous increase in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and indeterminate colitis (IC) has been suggested. Since Denmark provides excellent conditions for epidemiological research, we aimed to describe contemporary IBD incidence rates and patient characteristics in Copenhagen County and City. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with IBD during 2003-2005 were followed prospectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics, such as disease extent, extraintestinal manifestations, smoking habits, medical treatment, surgical interventions, cancer, and death, were registered. RESULTS: Five-hundred sixty-two patients were diagnosed with IBD, resulting in mean annual incidences of 8.6/10(5) for CD, 13.4/10(5) for UC, and 1.1/10(5) for IC. Time from onset to diagnosis was 8.3 months in CD and 4.5 months in UC patients. A family history of IBD, smoking, and extraintestinal manifestations was significantly more common in CD than in UC patients. Only 0.6% of UC patients had primary sclerosing cholangitis. In CD, old age at diagnosis was related to pure colonic disease, whereas children significantly more often had proximal and extensive involvement. Twelve percent of CD patients and 6% of UC patients underwent surgery during the year of diagnosis, significantly less than earlier reported. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of IBD in Copenhagen increased noticeably during the last decades. Time from onset of symptoms until diagnosis decreased markedly, extent of CD was related to age at diagnosis, and the risk of surgery was low in UC.     

Correlation of C-reactive protein with clinical, endoscopic, histologic, and radiographic activity in inflammatory bowel disease

INTRODUCTION: We sought to examine the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and clinical, endoscopic, histologic, and radiographic activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: All IBD patients at our institution between January 2002 and August 2003 who had a CRP, colonoscopy, and either small bowel follow-through (SBFT) or CT enterography (CTE) performed within 14 days were identified. Clinical activity was assessed retrospectively through review of the medical record. Logistic regression was used in Crohn's disease (CD) patients to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals for an elevated CRP. Associations were assessed using Fisher exact test in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients due to small sample size. RESULTS: One-hundred four CD patients (46% males) and 43 UC and indeterminate colitis patients (44% males) were identified. In CD patients, moderate-severe clinical activity (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 1.1-18.3), active disease at colonoscopy (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4-8.9), and histologically severe inflammation (OR, 10.6; 95% CI; 1.1-104) were all significantly associated with CRP elevation. Abnormal small bowel radiographic imaging was not significantly associated with CRP elevation. In UC patients, CRP elevation was significantly associated with severe clinical activity, elevation in sedimentation rate, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and active disease at ileocolonoscopy, but not with histologic inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: CRP elevation in IBD patients is associated with clinical disease activity, endoscopic inflammation, severely active histologic inflammation (in CD patients), and several other biomarkers of inflammation, but not with radiographic activity.     

溃疡性结肠炎与感染性结肠炎临床和病理比较分析

目的　比较溃疡性结肠炎 (UC)与感染性结肠炎 (IC)临床表现、内镜及组织学特点等方面的不同。方法　复习 1996～ 2 0 0 1年我院住院的 12 7例UC和 14 3例IC患者的临床资料 ,比较两组患者的临床表现及常规实验室检查指标 ;盲法比较其中 46例UC和 42例IC患者内镜及组织学表现。结果　两组患者的病程、起病方式、有无血便、诱因、腹痛、恶心呕吐、发热等比较差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 0 1)。血白细胞计数及血色素比较差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 0 1)。内镜表现中提示UC的指标为弥漫性分布、粗糙颗粒变、自发性出血、袋囊变浅、肠管短缩及息肉。提示IC的指标为病变呈灶性分布。组织学表现中弥漫性混合性或慢性固有层炎症、隐窝扭曲与分叉、隐窝萎缩、绒毛状表面、基底浆细胞增多有助于UC的诊断。结论　结肠镜及粘膜活检有助于UC和IC的诊断     

Inflammatory bowel disease in Iran: a review of 457 cases

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was believed to be infrequent in Iran; however, unofficial reports have confessed the continuing rise in IBD in our country. METHODS: Demographic and clinical features, extraintestinal manifestations, extension of disease and complications of 401 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 47 with Crohn's disease (CD), and nine with indeterminatn colitis (IC) were assessed retrospectively. The exact course of physicians' visits of 250 IBD patient was asked through face-to-face interview. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 31.9 years in UC and 30.5 years in CD patients. The male to female ratio was 0.8 for UC and 1.3 for CD. The percentage of CD and UC patients who were non-smokers was 82.9 and 84.5%, respectively. Patients with UC presented with rectal bleeding (41.9%), whereas those with CD complained of abdominal pain (46.9%). Among UC patients, proctosigmoid was affected in 51.9%. Colorectal cancer was diagnosed in two patients. The mean lag time between the onset of symptoms and definite diagnosis was 13.9 and 17.7 months for UC and CD patients, respectively. A total of 32.4% of patients with IBD had at least one of the five major extra-intestinal diseases. Conclusion: The demographic and clinical picture of IBD is more or less the same as that of other developing countries; however, the rarity of CD in Iran is noted. Although the true epidemiologic profile of IBD in Iran is still unknown, it is not as rare as previously thought, and it seems as if gradual adoption of a Western lifestyle may be associated with the continuing rise in IBD.     

Change of diagnosis during the first five years after onset of inflammatory bowel disease: results of a prospective follow-up study (the IBSEN Study)

OBJECTIVE: An exact diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and further subclassification may be difficult even after clinical, radiological and histological examinations. A correct subclassification is important for the success of both medical and surgical therapeutic strategies, but there is a dearth of information available on the frequency of changes in diagnosis in population-based studies. The objective of this work was prospectively to re-evaluate the diagnosis in an unselected cohort of IBD patients during the first five years after the initial diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients classified as IBD or possible IBD in the period 1990-94 (the IBSEN cohort) had their diagnosis re-evaluated after 1 and 5 years. Initially, the patients were classified as ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD), indeterminate colitis (IC) or possible IBD. At the 5-year visit, patients were classified as UC, CD or non-IBD. RESULTS: A total of 843 patients (518 UC, 221 CD, 40 IC and 64 possible IBD) were identified. Clinical information was available for 94% of the patients who survived after 5 years. A change in diagnosis was found in 9% of the patients initially classified as UC or CD. A change to non-IBD was more frequent than a change between UC and CD. A large proportion of patients initially classified as IC or possible IBD were diagnosed as non-IBD after 5 years (22.5% versus 50%). When IBD was confirmed in these groups, UC was more frequent than CD. Two changes in diagnosis during follow-up were observed in 2.8% of the patients; this was more frequent in patients initially classified as IC or possible IBD. CONCLUSIONS: There are obvious diagnostic problems in a minority of patients with IBD; a systematic follow-up is therefore important in these patients.     

Pathology of dysplasia and cancer in inflammatory bowel disease

Morphologic identification of dysplasia in mucosal biopsies is the best and most reliable marker of an increased risk for malignancy in patients who have inflammatory bowel disease, and it forms the basis of the recommended endoscopic surveillance strategies that are in practice for patients who have this illness. In ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), dysplasia is defined as unequivocal neoplastic epithelium that is confined to the basement membrane, without invasion into the lamina propria. Unfortunately, unlike in UC, only a few studies have evaluated the pathologic features and biologic characteristics of dysplasia and carcinoma in CD specifically. As a result, this article focuses mainly on the pathologic features, adjunctive diagnostic methods, and differential diagnosis of dysplasia in UC.