Gastrointestinal: Luminal, Large Bowel Flashcards
Age range for Crohn’s disease
Bimodal:
- 15-30 (most common)
- 60-70
“Squaring” of the bowel mucosal folds…
Think Crohns
Note: This is an early manifestation from obstructive lymphedema.
What are “proud loops” in Crohns disease?
Separation of bowel loops due to fat infiltration of the mesentery (creeping fat)
What are the pseudopolyps in Crohns disease?
Islands of hyperplastic mucosa
What is the best location to evaluate if looking for signs of Crohn’s disease?
The terminal ileum
Age range for ulcerative colitis
Bimodal:
- 15-30 (most common)
- 60-70
Note: This is the same as for Crohn’s disease.
What is the best location to evaluate if looking for signs of ulcerative colitis?
The rectum (involved in 95% of cases)
How often is the terminal ileum involved in ulcerative colitis?
5-10% (due to backwash ileitis)
Pt with longstanding ulcerative colitis and a newly enlarged abdominal lymph node…
Suspicious for cancer
Note: Unlike in Crohn’s disease, lymphadenopathy is not common in ulcerative colitis unless a cancer has developed.
Ulcerative colitis is associated with…
- Colon cancer
- Primary sclerosis cholangitis
- Arthritis
Ulcerative colitis
Note: Ahaustral colon with diffusely granular colonic mucosa.
Ulcerative colitis
Note: Diffusely irregular colonic mucosa (no skip lesions) without any haustra.
Gallstones are more common in Crohns/UC
Crohns
Primary sclerosis cholangitis is more common in Crohns/UC
Ulcerative colitis
hepatic abscesses are more common in Crohns/UC
Crohns
Pancreatitis is more common in Crohns/UC
Crohns
Colonic fistulae are more common in Crohns/UC
Crohns
Think toxic megacolon
Note: Gaseous dilatation of the transverse colon with loss of haustra.
Common causes of toxic megacolon
- Ulcerative colitis (most common)
- Crohns
- C. diff colitis (less common)
What should you not do if you are suspecting toxic megacolon?
Barium enema (due to risk of perforation)
Crohns appearance of the bowel in the ileocecal region in a pt with ulcers of the penis and mouth…
Behcets
What vascular complication is associated with Behcets?
Pulmonary artery aneurysm
Behcets
- Ulcers of the mouth and penis
- Crohns appearance of the bowel in the ileocecal region
- Pulmonary artery aneurysms
What is the most common cause of gastrointestinal fistula formation?
Diverticulitis
Epiploic appendagitis
Omental infarction
Which side is epiploic appendagitis more common on?
The left side
Note: Mental infarction is more common on the right.
Best test to evaluate for appendicitis in a pregnant female
MRI without contrast
Common causes of appendicitis
- Obstructing appendicolith
- Obstructing reactive lymphoid tissue
Think appendix mucocele
Appendix ultrasound
Think appendix mucocele
Note: This is the “onion sign” on ultrasound (layering within the cyst).
Appendices mucocele
Dilatation of the appendix with mucous due to a benign (e.g. retention cyst) or malignant (e.g. mutinous cystadenocarcinoma) process