[Radiological assessment of Crohn disease]

Fifty-eight consecutive cases of patients affected by Crohn's disease, with ileum (23/58), colon (10/58) and ileo-colic (25/58) involvement were studied. A good overall sensitivity was reached by the radiological procedures employed (barium meal, barium enema, enteroclysis). Enteroclysis is proposed as a second-step method for the study of ileum involvement, because it provides a quite precise assessment of disease stage and extent. Some criteria for a rational use of current radiological procedures in the follow-up of both surgically and medically treated patients are proposed. Moreover it is suggested that better coordination of anatomo-radiological and clinical aspects could improve the therapeutic approach and prognostic judgement in such cases.