title: The use of ultrasound in inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: Imaging in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) plays a pivotal role in the primary diagnosis, as well as during the management of patients with known IBD. The evolution of ultrasound equipment and the growing expertise of examiners have both enhanced the role of intestinal ultrasound in the assessment of the gastrointestinal tract in IBD patients. Intestinal ultrasound has been shown to have high sensitivity and specificity, as well as high positive and negative predictive value, in the detection or exclusion of intestinal inflammatory activity in IBD. The obvious advantages of intestinal ultrasound over other imaging modalities include non-invasiveness, rapid availability and low costs. This review summarizes the current developments in the use of intestinal ultrasound for the detection of IBD and its complications, and discusses its use in the management of patients with IBD. Indications for the use of intestinal ultrasound in daily practice are presented, expanded by new developments such as contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and elastography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Lüneburg Hospital, University of Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kucharzik
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Lüneburg Hospital, University of Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kannengiesser
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Lüneburg Hospital, University of Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petersen
keywords: Intestinal ultrasound; contrast-enhanced ultrasound; inflammatory bowel disease