Clinical Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 1, 2004; 10(9): 1349-1352
Published online May 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i9.1349
Capsule endoscopy in diagnosis of small bowel Crohn’s disease
Zhi-Zheng Ge, Yun-Biao Hu, Shu-Dong Xiao
Zhi-Zheng Ge, Yun-Biao Hu, Shu-Dong Xiao, Department of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200001, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Zhi-Zheng Ge, Department of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Shanghai Second Medical University, 145 Shandong Zhong Road, Shanghai 200001, China. gezheng@public8.sta.net.cn
Telephone: +972-4-8542504 Fax: +972-4-8543058
Received: June 5, 2003
Revised: July 20, 2003
Accepted: August 16, 2003
Published online: May 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of wireless capsule endoscopy in patients with suspected Crohn’s disease (CD) of the small bowel undetected by conventional modalities, and to determine the diagnostic yield of M2A Given Capsule.

METHODS: From May 2002 to April 2003, we prospectively examined 20 patients with suspected CD by capsule endoscopy. The patients had the following features: abdominal pain, weight loss, positive fecal occult blood test, iron deficiency anaemia, diarrhoea and fever. All the patients had normal results in small bowel series (SBS) and in upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy before they were examined. Mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 6.5 years.

RESULTS: Of the 20 patients, 13 (65%) were diagnosed as CD of the small bowel according to the findings of M2A Given Capsule. The findings detected by the capsule were mucosal erosions (2 patients), aphthas (5 patients), nodularity (1 patient), large ulcers (2 patients), and ulcerated stenosis (3 patients). The distribution of the lesions was mainly in the distal part of the small bowel, and the mild degree of lesions was 54%.

CONCLUSION: Wireless capsule endoscopy is effective in diagnosing patients with suspected CD undetected by conventional diagnostic methods. It can be used to detect early lesions in the small bowel of patients with CD.

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