Diagnosis
How is Crohn's Disease Diagnosed?
It can be difficult to diagnose Crohn's disease (CD).
Everyone has a different experience. People who may have CD but have not been diagnosed often have:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Stomach pain and cramping
- Blood in their stool
In order to diagnose CD, a general practitioner or gastroenterologist will conduct a series of tests to try to determine the cause of these symptoms:
Crohn's disease is often misdiagnosed or confused with ulcerative colitis.
Stool Examinations
This is a test in which a small sample of a patient’s stool (or feces) is examined for certain parasites, blood, bacteria, or viral components that might indicate an IBD.
Barium X-ray
Before the X-ray, a patient drinks barium, a fluid that enables the GI tract to be seen during an X-ray, highlighting abnormalities.
CT Scans
A CT (computed tomography test), also known as a CAT scan, is a scanning machine used to look at the patient’s internal systems. In CD, the CT test is used to detect abscesses (a localized infection) and fistulas (an abnormal tunnel between 2 hollow organs, such as the colon and the vagina) in the patient’s GI tract.
Endoscopic Tests
A doctor uses an endoscope, a snakelike tube with a fiber-optic camera attached to one end, to see inside the GI tract. The endoscope also includes a tool to allow the doctor to take a small sample of the bowel wall that can be examined later in a lab for evidence of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
