Crohn's disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract

The transmural granulomatous inflammation of chronic nature which characterizes the Crohn's disease involves primarily the terminal ileum and colon. However, the upper gastrointestinal tract may also be affected by the same histopathological process, usually co-existent with or following Crohn's disease of the ileocecal region. Such cases can present a formidable diagnostic challenge if the clinical, endoscopic and radiographic findings are not correlated. This article describes and illustrates the spectrum of radiological manifestations of Crohn's disease and its associated complications involving the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.