Crohn's disease diagnosed by wireless capsule endoscopy in adolescents with abdominal pain, protein-losing enteropathy, anemia and negative endoscopic and radiologic findings.
BACKGROUND
Approximately one-fourth of new Crohn's disease diagnoses are made in individuals under the age of 20 years, in whom proximal Crohn's disease tends to be more common.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the role of wireless capsule endoscopy in diagnosing isolated small intestinal Crohn's disease in two adolescents.


METHODS
Wireless capsule endoscopy was performed in two adolescents with severe protein-losing enteropathy and negative standard diagnostic workup.


RESULTS
Wireless capsule endoscopy successfully diagnosed Crohn's disease with uncharacteristic presentations and negative radiographic and endoscopic findings in both patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The non-invasiveness and ease in performance of capsule endoscopy on an ambulatory basis make this diagnostic modality especially advantageous for children.
Barkay
Olga
O
Division of Gastroenterology, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Moshkowitz
Menachem
M
Reif
Shimon
S
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000209:etiology