[Angiography in Crohn's regional enteritis. Its relation to conventional radiological, endoscopic and...

There has been a definite increase in the incidence of Crohn's disease in recent years. A particular feature of this disease is the high incidence of recurrence after surgical removal of affected portions of the gut. This may be due to a resection carried out through a diseased segment and this stresses the importance of recognising early changes. This is not possible by conventional radiology (small bowel examination, barium enema) and is therefore an indication for pre-operative visceral angiography. The results obtained in ten patients, who subsequently came to surgery, were compared with the findings on conventional radiology and endoscopy. Angiography proved the best method for the early demonstration of inflammatory changes. This was confirmed by histological examination of the resected specimen.