Clinical Features and Differential Diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn Disease

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is composed of two major subtypes, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD). These chronic disorders, characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, demonstrate a variety of clinical features, including intestinal and extraintestinal manifestations during periods of relapse and remission over many years. This review examines the clinical features of IBD, including the extraintestinal manifestations and diagnosis. Figures include examples of images conducted via computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and position emission tomography (PET)/CT. Tables list the location frequencies of UC and CD at the time of diagnosis, extraintestinal manifestations of IBD, differential diagnosis of UC and CD, and clinical utility of fecal calprotectin in the evaluation and management of IBD. This review contains 4 highly rendered figures, 5 tables, and 48 references.