What's Your Diagnosis? Labial Swelling and Perianal Ulceration

Abstract

Crohns Disease (CD) is an inflammatory granulomatous condition which can affect any segment of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus. Anywhere from 20% to 40% of patients with CD have associated skin findings. Cutaneous CD can be split into two types. The most common lesions are those which are contiguous with GI tract mucosa such as perioral or perianal lesions. Then there are lesions that are not contiguous and these are most commonly referred to as metastatic CD. Although one third of cases of CD present before age 20 cutaneous CD is very rare in these younger patients. As of the most recent large case series reported only 14 patients younger than age 18 have been described with cutaneous CD in the English language literature. (excerpt)