ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE IN CHILDREN- COMPARISON WITH ILEOCOLONOSCOPY

Objectives: To determine the feasibility and value of transabdominal u ltrasonography of the terminal ileum and colon of children with inflam matory bowel disease (IBD) and to compare the findings with those of i leocolonoscopy. Study design: Thirty-eight patients ranging in age fro m 4 to 18 years who underwent ileocolonoscopy for management of IBD or for diagnosis were studied prospectively. Twenty-one patients had Cro hn disease, nine had ulcerative colitis, and eight served as control s ubjects. Transabdominal ultrasonography was performed on the day befor e ileocolonoscopy. Ultrasonographic findings were compared with the re sults of ileocolonoscopy, used as the reference method. Results: Peris talsis was recorded in all segments of the control subjects; the thick ness of the terminal ileum was always less than 2.5 mm, and that of th e large bowel, 2 mm or less. In the two patient subgroups, the thickne ss range of affected ileal and colonic segments was similar, but value s were significantly different from those of the control subjects (chi -square test, p <0.0001). The overall sensitivity of the method was 88 %, and the specificity, 93%. Conclusion: Transabdominal ultrasonograph y should prove to be a useful clinical and investigational technique, although further studies are needed to assess its value in the treatme nt of children with IBD.