Background and study aims: Capsule endoscopy is increasingly reported as an important diagnostic procedure in
patients with known or suspected Crohn’s disease, but its clinical utility in patients
with ulcerative colitis or unclassified type inflammatory bowel disease (IBDU) is
unclear. The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy
for small-bowel disease in patients with ulcerative colitis and IBDU.
Patients and methods: All data from patients with a history of ulcerative colitis or IBDU who underwent
capsule endoscopy between October 2001 and August 2005 were analyzed for procedure
indications and findings. Images were reviewed by an experienced capsule endoscopist.
The finding of multiple ulcerations (three or more) on capsule endoscopy was classified
as diagnostic of small-bowel Crohn’s disease.
Results: 120 patients had undergone 122 capsule endoscopy procedures. Overall, 19 of 120 patients
(15.8 %) had capsule endoscopy findings consistent with the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease.
The proportion of patients with small-bowel disease was significantly higher among
patients with a history of colectomy (7 of 21 patients, 33 %) compared with those
without colectomy (12/99, 12 %) (P = 0.04). Among patients with positive findings on capsule endoscopy, 18 had also previously
undergone a small-bowel follow-through study and only one showed findings consistent
with Crohn’s disease.
Conclusions: Many patients with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and atypical features or IBDU
may have small-bowel findings on capsule endoscopy that are consistent with Crohn’s
disease. Capsule endoscopy should be considered in ulcerative colitis patients with
atypical clinical features particularly after colectomy.
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K. A. Papadakis, MD, PhD
University of Crete Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology
University Hospital of Heraklion
PO Box 1352, Heraklion 71110,
Crete, Greece
Fax: +30-2810-542085
Email: Papadakis.konstantinos@gmail.com