title: Bowel ultrasound imaging in patients with cystic fibrosis: Relationship with clinical symptoms and CFTR genotype.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultrasound imaging is used to assess bowel abnormalities in gastrointestinal diseases. We aimed to assess the rate of predefined bowel ultrasound signs and their relationship with gastrointestinal symptoms and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) genotype in cystic fibrosis patients in regular follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of 70 consecutive patients with cystic fibrosis and 45 controls who underwent abdominal ultrasound; pertinent findings were related to gastrointestinal symptoms and, in cystic fibrosis patients, to pancreatic status, malabsorption degree, lipase intake, CFTR genotype (classified as severe or mild against functional class of CFTR mutations).
  
  
  RESULTS
  96% patients showed at least one abnormal bowel ultrasound sign. Most frequent signs were lymph node enlargement (64%), bowel loop dilatation (55%), thick corpuscular intraluminal content (49%), bowel wall hypervascularization (26%), thickened bowel wall (22%) and intussusception (17%). Patients with recurrent abdominal pain showed more bowel wall hypervascularization than patients without recurrent pain (47% vs. 19%, respectively; p = 0.02) and intussusception (58% vs. 17%, respectively; p < 0.01). Genotype was not associated to specific bowel ultrasound signs. Patients with bowel loop intussusception showed greater lipase intake than those without intussusception (8.118 ± 2.083 vs. 5.994 ± 4.187, respectively; p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cystic fibrosis patients present a higher rate of bowel ultrasound abnormalities than controls. Bowel ultrasound abnormalities are associated with abdominal symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: mfraquelli@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fraquelli
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baccarin
authors.affiliation: Regional Referral Centre for Cystic Fibrosis, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corti
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Clara Benedetta
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.affiliation: Regional Referral Centre for Cystic Fibrosis, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: S.S.D., Department of Anesthesia and Resuscitation, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Della Valle
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cressoni
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.affiliation: Regional Referral Centre for Cystic Fibrosis, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007443:Intussusception / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000072281:Lymphadenopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010641:Phenotype; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
keywords: Abdominal symptoms; Bowel ultrasound; Cystic fibrosis; Intussusception