Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect any part of the digestive tract, but most commonly involves the small intestine and colon. The inflammation can extend deep into the bowel wall, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue. Crohn’s disease often follows a pattern of flare-ups and periods of remission, and imaging helps evaluate disease severity and complications.
What is it?
Crohn’s disease causes chronic inflammation that can affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus. Unlike ulcerative colitis, which affects only the colon and involves shallow inflammation, Crohn’s disease can involve deeper layers of the bowel wall and skip between normal areas, creating “patchy” inflammation. This can lead to bowel wall thickening, narrowing (strictures), fistulas, or abscesses.
Imaging such as CT or MRI enterography helps assess the extent of inflammation, identify complications, and guide treatment decisions. Radiologists evaluate bowel wall thickening, fat stranding, strictures, and other features that suggest active inflammation or chronic scarring.
Important to Know
Crohn’s disease may flare unpredictably, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. Uncontrolled inflammation can lead to complications including obstruction, abscesses, fistulas, and nutritional deficiencies. Imaging is often used when symptoms worsen or when complications are suspected.
Red flag symptoms include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, fever, rectal bleeding, or signs of dehydration—these require urgent medical evaluation. Treatment focuses on reducing inflammation, preventing complications, and improving quality of life. Regular follow-up imaging may be recommended to monitor disease activity and treatment response.