Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2025

Flexible Colonoscopy in Mice to Evaluate the Severity of Colitis and Colorectal Tumors Using a Validated Endoscopic Scoring System
Published on: October 16, 2013
Histologic and Endoscopic Findings Are Highly Correlated in a Prospective Cohort of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel
Federica Di Vincenzo1,2, Maria A Quintero1, Joao M Serigado3
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami - Leonard Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
Background And Aims:
The advantages of endoscopic vs histologic assessments of inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease remain unclear. We compared endoscopic and histologic inflammation in a prospective cohort. Furthermore, in patients with discordant findings, we compared the ability of endoscopy vs histology to predict disease course.
Methods:
Ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) patients underwent routine colonoscopies with intestinal biopsies, which included ratings of inflammation severity. Tetrachoric correlation analysis between the endoscopic and histologic inflammation ratings was performed. In postsurgical CD patients, major adverse outcomes (MAOs) were recorded.
Results:
The analysis included 749 patients (60.2% CD patients), with 2807 biopsied segments. We found high concordance between endoscopist and pathologist inflammation ratings (0.84, 95% confidence interval, 0.81-0.87, p < 0.0001). Only 12.5% of biopsied segments exhibited microscopic inflammation without endoscopic inflammation. Neo-terminal ileum (neo-TI) biopsies exhibited the highest discordance; UC colonic biopsies had the highest concordance. Postsurgical CD patients who completed the 48-month follow-up (n = 138) were included in the survival analysis. The probability of MAO-free survival was significantly higher in patients with a Rutgeerts score of i0 at baseline than in those with higher scores. Microscopic inflammation in the neo-TI did not predict a higher risk of MAOs (p = 1.00).
Conclusions:
In a real-world setting, endoscopic inflammation predicted histologic inflammation with high accuracy. In patients with a Rutgeerts score of i0, microscopic inflammation in neo-TI biopsies did not predict more aggressive disease behavior over the next 4 years. These results have implications for the design of clinical trials, suggesting the use of endoscopic healing as an endpoint.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Histology of the Small Intestine
The intestinal lining features transverse folds called circular folds, each housing fingerlike projections known as intestinal villi. These villi are covered by a layer of simple columnar epithelium, also referred to as...
Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Few clinical manifestations differentiate gastric ulcers from duodenal ulcers. Distinctions in the location, timing, and pain relief are crucial for healthcare providers in differentiating between gastric and duodenal ulcers during clinical assessments.

