Recommendations of the Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU) on the use of abdominal ultrasound in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Ultrasound has an excellent diagnostic performance when Crohn's disease is suspected, when performing an activity assessment, or determining the extension and location of Crohn's disease, very similar to other examinations such as MRI or CT. It has a good correlation with endoscopic lesions and allows the detection of complications such as strictures, fistulas or abscesses. It complements colonoscopy in the diagnosis and, given its tolerance, cost and immediacy, it can be considered as a good tool for disease monitoring. In ulcerative colitis, its role is less relevant, being limited to assessing the extent and activity when it is not possible with other diagnostic techniques or if there are doubts with these. Despite its advantages, its use in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not widespread in Spain. For this reason, this document reviews the advantages and disadvantages of the technique to promote knowledge about it and implementation of it in IBD Units.

Keywords: Colitis ulcerosa; Crohńs disease; Curación mucosa; Curación transmural; Ecografía; Enfermedad de Crohn; Monitoring; Monitorización; Mucosal healing; Post-surgical recurrence; Recurrencia postquirúrgica; Transmural healing; Ulcerative colitis; Ultrasonography.