Ultrasound Scanning

Abstract

Inflammatory or neoplastic bowel pathology is associated with thickening of the bowel wall. Ultrasound appearances reflect the pathological changes in the bowel. Crohn's disease is a transluminal disease leading to fibrosis. This fibrosis is responsible for the formation of an echo-poor halo surrounding a central echogenic zone. In the earlier stages with transmural oedema and inflammation, the halo assumes a ground glass appearance. Ulcerative colitis is a mucosal disease and hence the halo is a less prominent feature. Severe oedema in the bowel wall in fulminant ulcerative colitis can be recognized by the marked reduction of the haustral and central lumen of the colon.

Key Words:

• Crohn's disease
• ulcerative colitis
• ultrasound