Ultrasonographic assessment of colonic wall in moderate–severe ulcerative colitis: Comparison with endoscopic findings

BackgroundBowel ultrasound has been shown to be a useful tool to evaluate patients with inflammatory bowel disease, especially Crohn's disease. However, such data are still scarce in ulcerative colitis patients.AimsTo establish the value of bowel ultrasound in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis patients, and compare these data with endoscopic findings.Patients and methodsEndoscopic, ultrasound and C-reactive protein data from 51 patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis observed during a 3-year period were retrospectively obtained and analysed.ResultsAll patients displayed pathological thickness (>4 mm) of the colon wall. This value strongly correlated with C-reactive protein values (p = 0.0001) and the endoscopic score (p < 0.0001). Also, a strong correlation (p < 0.0001) was found between CRP values and endoscopic score.ConclusionsBowel ultrasound, in expert hands, may represent a useful adjunctive (or first line) tool for the evaluation of patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.