Gastroduodenal Crohn's disease

Costas H. Kefalas, MD

From the Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

Corresponding author: Costas H. Kefalas, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, 3500 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75246 (e-mail: CHKefalas@worldnet.att.net).

Crohn's disease is one of 2 archetypes of chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease, the other being ulcerative colitis. Crohn's disease is defined by chronic inflammation that may involve any site of the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus, most commonly the terminal ileum and proximal colon (1). Rarely, Crohn's disease may affect the stomach and duodenum. The unusual clinical features of gastroduodenal Crohn's disease and the various treatments available, including medical, endoscopic, and surgical, are discussed in this article.