title: Transperineal ultrasonography for evaluation of the perianal fistula and abscess in pediatric Crohn disease: preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of transperineal ultrasonography (TPUS) for the evaluation of perianal Crohn disease (PCD) in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 2010 and August 2013, 64 TPUS examinations were performed in 43 patients (34 males and 9 females; mean age±standard deviation, 13.3±2.4 years; age range, 6 to 17 years) to evaluate PCD. The pain severity, location, and activity of perianal fistula, the presence of an abscess, and anal canal hyperemia were retrospectively evaluated. Spearman rank correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the severity of the pain and the fistula activity, the presence of an abscess, and anal canal hyperemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All examinations were successfully performed. Thirty-nine examinations (60.9%) were performed without any pain experienced by the patient, 19 examinations (29.7%) with mild pain, five examinations (7.8%) with moderate pain, and one examination (1.6%) with severe pain. The pain severity was correlated with the fistula activity (P<0.01). An anterior fistula location was more common than a posterior location. Active fistulas and abscesses were identified during 30 examinations (46.9%) and 12 examinations (18.8%), respectively. Anal canal hyperemia was identified in 31 examinations (48.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TPUS with a color Doppler study is useful for visualizing a perianal fistula or abscess and for assessing its inflammatory activity in pediatric Crohn patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hye-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Wee Kyung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Ah
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jin Seong
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chong Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Yeoun Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung Mo
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kim