[Imaging of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases in childhood and adolescence : Repetitorium]

Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases can already occur in childhood and in contrast to affected adults, are more frequently manifested as unspecific symptoms. Therefore, at the time of diagnosis the gastrointestinal tract may already be severely affected. Both the diagnostic methods and the treatment concept, which is ideally carried out by pediatric gastroenterologists, differ from those used in adults. The primary diagnostics mainly include sonography and hydro-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), whereby each modality offers certain advantages depending on the patient and the examiner but is also subject to limitations in terms of feasibility and evaluation. Imaging diagnostics contribute not only to finding the diagnosis but also to assessing the extent of the disease. They also serve to monitor the course of the disease in terms of treatment response or failure, to assess the activity and to detect and quantify possible complications, such as fistulas or abscesses.