DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN CROHNS-DISEASE AND ULCERATIVE-COLITIS

In the last several decades, the incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) has been rising. This trend, in part, has been due to the clinical recognition of isolated CD. The differentiation usually can be made based on careful clinical history, physical examination, and diagnostic testing. The most reliable and sensitive method for differentiating these two diagnoses is colonoscopy. The ability to obtain directed endoscopic colonic biopsy specimens gives an even greater diagnostic yield. In many situations, observation of the clinical course and repeated diagnostic evaluations result in further clarification of the disease process involved.