Inflammatory bowel disease overview
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease Main page |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of inflammatory conditions of the large intestine and, in some cases, the small intestine. It should not be confused with IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, which is less severe.
Screening
While patients of IBD do have an increased risk of colorectal cancer this is usually caught much earlier than the general population in routine surveillance of the colon by colonoscopy, and therefore patients are much more likely to survive.
Diagnosis
Other Diagnostic Studies
Diagnosis is generally by colonoscopy with biopsy of pathological lesions.
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Depending on the level of severity, IBD may require immunosuppression to control the symptoms such as azathioprine, methotrexate, or 6-mercaptopurine. More commonly, treatment of IBD requires a form of mesalamine.