Abstract
A considerable number of cases with Crohn's disease are now under tollow-up observation. During the last 15 years, enteroscopy using the sonde type enteoscopes has been carried out in 15 cases with Crohn's disease (including 9 males and 6 females) for diagnosis and follow-up observation. The enteroscopic findings were analysed, and compared with those of small bowel X-ray. Twenty-eight examinations were performed with these cases ; in 24 (85.7%), the scope could reach the involved area and observation was possible. In 13 case, the presence of small intestinal lesions were confirmed ; in the remaining two, the small intestine was not involved. Enteroscopy could reveal the characteristic findings of Crohn's disease, i. e. longitudinal ulcers, circular ulcers, irregular ulcers, aphthoid ulcers, cobble-stone appearance, inflammatory polyps, pseudo-diverticular formation, and stenosis. Enteroscopy was considered to have an advantage over X-ray in the detection of minute lesions ; however, X-ray was superior in the delineation of pseudo-diverticular formaiton. In cases under follow-up, fluctuation in the disease activity as well as the extention of the involved area were observed. However, the transition from aphthoid ulcers to longitudinal ones could not be observed.
