Diagnostic value of high resolution sonography in the diagnosis of Crohn'sdisease and ulcerative colitis.

Objective - To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of high resolution sonograp hy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (MICI). Patients and methods - In patients with Crohn's disease (n = 48), ulcerativ e colitis (n = 23), indeterminate coilits (n = 3), inflammatory (n = 21) an d non-inflammatory (n = 23) controls, high resolution sonography was perfro med and compared to colonoscopy (+/- retrograde ilescopy) and/or baryum stu dies of the small bowel and the colon. Results - Diagnosis of intestinal inflammation or not was correct in 69/74 MICI patients (sensitivity: 94.4%, specificity: 66.7%, global accuracy: 93. 2%). Segment location was accurate in 58/74 (sensitivity: 80.3%, specificit y: 66.7%, global accuracy: 79.7), more frequently in Crohn's disease, than in ulcerative colitis. Five out of six complications of Crohn's disease wer e diagnosed. In Crohn's disease, the method was more accurate in case of co lonic or ileocolonic involvement. Conclusion - High resolution sonography is a reliable diagnostic tool for t he detection of intestinal inflammation and related complications in MICI. It can be of value in the follow-up and seems particularly interesting in t he case of temporary contraindication of invasive methods.