title: Sonographic assessment of the normal and abnormal bowel wall in nondiverticular ileitis and colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the value of high resolution sonography (HRS) in identifying normal and inflammatory bowel wall in nondiverticular ileitis and colitis by using a segment-by-segment analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five HRS were performed in patients with nondiverticular inflammatory bowel disease, without knowledge of clinical, endoscopic, and radiologic data. HRS evaluated separately five intestinal segments (terminal ileum, cecum/ascending colon, transverse, descending colon, and sigmoid colon) and was considered positive for inflammation when wall thickness during compression exceeded 3 mm. We compared HRS findings with results of endoscopy or enteroclysis performed within 8 days of HRS; endoscopic and radiologic results were classified into two subgroups: mild inflammatory lesions and frank inflammatory lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Segment-by-segment analysis resulted in an accuracy of 81%, a sensitivity of 70%, and a specificity of 93%. Sensitivity was significantly lower for mild lesions (52%) than for frank lesions (87%, p < .001). Of the 32 patients having an inflammatory bowel condition, 29 (91%) had at least one segment correctly identified as inflammatory by HRS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even if relatively insensitive for minor lesions, HRS is a promising, minimally invasive method for assessing normal and inflammatory bowel wall in nondiverticular ileitis and colitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hopital St-Eloi, Avenue Bertin Sans, F-34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pradel
authors.forename: X R
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taourel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djafari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veyrac
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bruel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003092:Colitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007079:Ileitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007082:Ileum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography