Management of severe ulcerative colitis with the help of high resolution ultrasonography.
OBJECTIVE
The prognosis of attacks of ulcerative colitis is clearly linked to the extent and activity of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of high resolution ultrasonography in assessing both the extent and activity of severe ulcerative colitis and its response to medical treatment.


METHODS
Fifty-seven consecutive patients affected by a severe (32 patients) or moderately severe (25 patients) attack of ulcerative colitis underwent ultrasonographic examination. The ultrasonographic extent of the disease was evaluated in 32 patients by comparing ultrasonography and scintigraphy.


RESULTS
Compared with scintigraphy, sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of ultrasonographic extent were 89%, 100%, and 91%, respectively. These results were also confirmed in a subgroup of patients submitted to surgery, comparing ultrasonographic and scintigraphic data versus specimens. Using the ultrasonographic score of activity, it was possible to discriminate severe and moderately severe attacks with a specificity, sensitivity, and diagnostic accuracy of 96%, 90.3%, and 92.9% respectively. A close correlation was also found between ultrasonographic and scintigraphic activity (r = 0.78; p < 0.001). After 10 days of intensive treatment, the ultrasonographic activity significantly decreased in severe and moderate groups (p < 0.001) and in both subgroups of nonoperated patients (p < 0.001) but not in operated patients (p = NS).


CONCLUSIONS
High resolution ultrasonography can be useful in assessing both extent and activity of severe ulcerative colitis, in monitoring the patient's condition, and in objectively evaluating the response to medical therapy.
Arienti
V
V
Patologia Medica I, Ospedale S. Orsola, Universita di Bologna, Italy.
Campieri
M
M
Boriani
L
L
Gionchetti
P
P
Califano
C
C
Giancane
S
S
Furno
A
A
Gasbarrini
G
G
D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012007:Rectum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime