[Sonographic detection of fistulas in Crohn disease]

The sonographic detection of fistulas in Crohn's disease has been almost impossible up to now and had therefore not been attempted. Two findings of an enterocutaneous and a blind-ending colohepatic fistula are demonstrated. Probably sonographic diagnosis of fistulas is better than has been believed so far, due to the high contrast of tiny gas bubbles; the "compression technique" to bypass meteoristic intestinal loops, which is been increasingly employed, and the improved physical resolution that allows to distinguish between different layers of the intestinal wall, are further contributing factors to the increasing use of sonography in this category of diagnostics.