Imaging Features of Crohn's Disease in Chinese People: A Preliminary Study

ASC Cheng, HKF Mak, CKC Lai, CB Ip, HS Cheung

Hong Kong J Radiol 2002;5:162-9

Objective: A retrospective study to describe the imaging findings of Crohn’s disease in Hong Kong Chinese patients.

Patients and Methods: Radiological and cross-sectional imaging studies performed in a 3-year period (1997 to 2000) on 17 patients with proven Crohn’s disease were reviewed. The findings were categorised as mild, moderate, and severe by radiological grading and a novel Combined Imaging Predictive Index.

Results: Eleven patients (64.7%) had multifocal disease and 6 patients (35.3%) had focal disease. The terminal ileum was the most common site of involvement (70.6%). The most frequent findings were eccentric luminal change (52.9%) and thickened folds with nodularity (47.1%). By Combined Imaging Predictive Index, 11/17 patients (64.7%) had severe disease, 4/17 (23.5%) had intermediate disease, and 2/17 (11.8%) had mild disease. By radiological grading, 9/13 patients (69.2%) had severe disease, 4/13 (30.8%) had moderate disease, and none had mild disease.

Conclusions: Crohn’s disease in Chinese patients frequently involves the terminal ileum and exhibits eccentric luminal change and nodular thickened folds. The radiological features do not appear to be substantially different from those described in the West. Combined Imaging Predictive Index may be useful in describing Crohn’s disease, but further prospective study is required to confirm its clinical value.