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Review article: Indeterminate colitis--definition, diagnosis and management
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. tremaine.william@mayo.edu
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|January 19, 2007
Summary
Indeterminate colitis lacks a clear definition, often relying on exclusion. However, it may represent a distinct patient group requiring specific diagnostic criteria for clarity.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
Background:
- The term "indeterminate colitis" lacks a universally accepted definition.
- Despite its imprecision, the term is frequently used by clinicians and pathologists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an evidence-based opinion on the appropriate use of "indeterminate colitis."
- To address key questions regarding the definition and application of indeterminate colitis.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a PubMed search using "colitis" and "inflammatory bowel disease" combined with terms like "indeterminate," "unclassified," and "undefined."
Main Results:
- No consensus definition exists for indeterminate colitis.
- Current diagnostic approaches rely on exclusionary criteria without confirmatory tests.
- A subset of patients with indeterminate colitis may represent a unique, durable phenotype.
Conclusions:
- "Indeterminate colitis" has evolved from a pathological diagnosis to a clinical one lacking standardized criteria.
- When used, the diagnosis of indeterminate colitis should be accompanied by descriptors of the applied diagnostic criteria.
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