Differential Dx of Signs and Symptoms
| SYMPTOMS | Crohn’s Disease | Ulcerative Colitis |
| Defecation | Will present porridge-like stool and possibly fatty diarrhea (steatorrhea) | Mucus like and will often PRESENT WITH BLOOD/PUS (90%) |
| Tenesmus | Less Common | More Common |
| Fever | Common (Affects everywhere) | Less Common (would indicate a severe disease state) |
| SYSTEMIC MARKERS (CRP, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate [ESR], | Common (Affects everywhere) | Less Common (would indicate a severe disease state) |
| Weight loss | Common | Less Common |
| BOTH: will often have often vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding from the rectum | ||
Differential Dx of Histologic/ Pathologic Findings
| FINDING | Crohn’s Disease | Ulcerative Colitis | |
| Inflammation in Terminal Ileus | Usually | Almost never | |
| Colon Involvement | Usually | 100% (50% if just colon/ rectum, 30% until left splenic flexure, 20% is the entire colon) | |
| Rectum Involvement | Almost never | Always | |
| Continuous or Skipping | SKIPPING (skip lesions) | CONTINUOUS |
|
| Higher Rate Of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis | No | YES | |
| Depth of the Disease | Transmural | Contained within the mucosal layer | |
| Strictures and Fistulas | Yes | No | |
| Granuloma | If present, it will rule out UC and give diagnosis of Crohn’s if symptoms fit | Never | |
| Abdominal Masses | May have one in RLQ | Almost Never | |
| Toxic Megacolon | No | Yes | |
Nocturia is a common symptom associated with obstructive sleep apnea. [1] Img Cred: Am J…
ASD (Atrial Septal Defect) Wide, Fixed split S2 (in contrast to the normal variation in…
Mixed apneas are characterized by absent respiratory effort and airflow in the first section of…
Although rare, the differential diagnosis of hypoventilation and hypercapnia respiratory failure includes hypothyroidism. It is…
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone created in response to cardiac wall stretch due…
A common finding described on computed tomography (CT) imaging. A disease with a peribronchovascular distribution…
This website uses cookies.