Can Crohn's disease be detected with an enhanced CT of the small intestine?

Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
Updated on February 10, 2025
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Crohn's disease cannot be accurately diagnosed through a CT scan of the small intestine; it only shows a general overview of the condition. To accurately diagnose specific conditions of Crohn's disease, it is necessary to perform a colonoscopy, combined with blood tests, routine stool tests, and pathological examinations for a definitive diagnosis. Then, further diagnoses can be made based on individual clinical symptoms. This disease generally has a definite connection with genetic and immune factors. If the condition is severe, surgery may be considered to remove the affected intestines.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Crohn's disease is what kind of disease?

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease primarily affecting the terminal ileum and the right half of the colon. Typical symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, and it may also lead to complications such as intestinal perforation or rectal bleeding. Additionally, it can affect joints, skin, liver, and other organs. The course of the disease is often recurrent and difficult to cure completely. Currently, there are no specifically effective drugs. Severe complications may require surgical treatment. Mild symptoms can be controlled with medication. Dietary guidelines suggest eating small, frequent meals that are high in nutrition and low in fat, and it is important to consume more vegetables and supplement with vitamin C.

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Written by Chen Rong
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of Crohn's disease?

Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease, primarily affecting the terminal ileum and adjacent colon, but can involve any digestive tract segment from mouth to anus, displaying either segmental or skip distribution. Clinically, it is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal mass, fistula formation, and intestinal obstruction. It may also present with fever and extraintestinal manifestations, including joint, skin, eye, and oral mucosa damage. This disease tends to recur throughout a person’s life, and severe cases can be prolonged and unhealing with poor prognosis. The onset age is mostly between 15-30 years, but initial attacks can occur at any age. The incidence rate is similar between genders. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom, often seen in the lower right abdomen or around the navel, presenting intermittently as cramp-like pain accompanied by bowel sounds, typically worsening after eating, and relieved by defecation or passing gas. Diarrhea is another common symptom, initially intermittent but can become persistent in later stages of the disease, with stools generally being pasty and containing mucus and pus-blood. If the lower part of the colon or anorectal area is involved, there may be mucus-bloody stools and a sensation of incomplete evacuation after bowel movements. Abdominal masses are often located in the lower right abdomen and around the navel, and fistula formation is a characteristic clinical manifestation of Crohn's disease.

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Does Crohn's disease cause bowel sounds?

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel condition characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation, and rectal bleeding. If diarrhea occurs, there will be noticeable hyperactive bowel sounds, and under such circumstances, it is imperative to use antidiarrheal medications promptly. Dietary adjustments are also important, including eating a moderate amount of vegetables and fruits. The dietary principles should focus on eating small, frequent meals with high nutrition and low fat. During active phases, it's crucial to rest more and stay hydrated, as severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration. Crohn's disease tends to recur frequently, so it is essential to strengthen daily care.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
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How serious is Crohn's disease exactly?

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause intestinal absorption disorders, malnutrition, and decreased body resistance leading to fever. The inflammation of the intestines can trigger abdominal pain, diarrhea, or bowel obstruction, and ischemic necrosis of the intestinal wall can lead to perforation and bloody stools. It can also affect other organs such as joints, liver, and skin, causing damage. Currently, the cause of Crohn's disease is not well understood, and it tends to have a long course, with frequent relapses and is difficult to cure completely. The current treatment methods combine pharmacotherapy with surgical techniques to treat complications and minimize damage to organs.

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Does Crohn's disease cause swelling of the feet?

Crohn's disease generally does not cause swelling of the feet, but if it causes nutritional disorders, there will be manifestations of swelling of the feet. This is due to hypoproteinemia, which leads to a decrease in the colloid osmotic pressure of the plasma, and the water and fluids in the blood vessels flow out into the tissue fluid, forming swelling in the feet. In addition to foot swelling, there may also be abdominal pain, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, and fever, and some may affect the liver, joints, or skin. For more noticeable foot swelling, it is appropriate to use diuretics. There is no specific treatment for Crohn's disease; it is mainly treated with medication and surgery to manage its complications and enhance nutritional support. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)