Diagnostic approach to inflammatory bowel disease

Rodolfo Valdovinos-García, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Zambrano Hellion, Escuela Nacional de Medicina Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, N.L., México
Manuel Martínez-Vázquez, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Zambrano Hellion, Escuela Nacional de Medicina Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, N.L., México

Inflammatory bowel disease has seen a rise in incidence and prevalence in recent years, entailing the need for early and precise diagnostic approach as the clinical management and outcome of the patient are dependent on the accuracy of the diagnosis. It is equally important to establish extent and the severity of the disease, as these also influence treatment options and possibly the progression of the disease. A bibliographic search was performed, citing 60 articles in the final analysis, to establish an approach to the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease based on current accepted procedures and criteria.

Palabras clave: Inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease. Diagnosis. Ileocolonoscopy.