Fact-sheet: Ulcerative colitis
Updated on 08/29/2017 at 3:40 PM
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Definition
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the mucosa (belonging to the IBD group) of unknown cause. It consistently involves the rectum and extends continuously to a variable extent toward the cecum, sparing the small bowel.
Clinical features
The most classic signs are:
- abdominal pain
- passage of mucous and bloody stools, which may be non-fecal
- no impairment of general condition
Laboratory findings
Nonspecific.
pANCA assay is of interest.
Ultrasound
Rarely indicated given the colonic involvement.
Can be performed initially to rule out ileal involvement that would call the diagnosis into question (except in backwash ileitis).
CT
Colitis pattern (left-sided +++):
- wall thickening >4 mm, continuous and symmetric
- pericolonic fat stranding
- possible mucosal hyperemia/submucosal edema.
Disease classically remaining nontransmural.
Management
Endoscopy for severity assessment and biopsy sampling.
Differential diagnosis
Crohn disease ++++