Crohn Disease
Also written as CD.
Growth failure, mouth ulcers and strictures are more typical of Crohn disease.
Crohn Disease (CD)
- Chronic inflammatory condition of GI tract; typically transmural
- Any part of GI tract from mouth to anus, but most commonly terminal ileum and colon
- "Skip lesions" — normal intervening bowel
- Granulomas (non-caseating) characteristic, but not always present
- Complex interplay of genetic, immune, and environmental factors
Read this in GASTROINTESTINAL PATHOLOGY (Part 2)
What our notes say
- Growth failure, mouth ulcers and strictures are more typical of Crohn disease. (Paediatrics end of second semester exam (MBPE 4300): 4 October 2022, cardiology,)
- Crohn's disease is transmural, can affect any part of the gut and produces skip lesions, fistulae and strictures. (Endocrinology and Gastroenterology Question Bank: 12 Clinical MCQs)
- Infection and inflammation: tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, lymphogranuloma venereum, and Crohn disease. (Junior Clerkship in Reproductive Health (MBOG 4200): end of year examination, 4 )
- Crohn disease involves the rectum only and has continuous lesions with a high risk of malignant transformation (Paediatrics end of 2nd semester exam (MBPE 4300): 5 October 2021, 50 MCQs)
- Crohn disease involves the mucosa of the entire GIT with a low risk of malignant transformation (Paediatrics end of 2nd semester exam (MBPE 4300): 5 October 2021, 50 MCQs)
- It prevents relapse of Crohn's disease in patients in remission (Internal Medicine Rheumatology CAT: 30 MCQs and 5 short answer questions)
Study material on Crohn Disease
- pathology essays
- systemic pathology essays
- GASTROINTESTINAL PATHOLOGY (Part 2)
- Paediatrics main exam (MBPE 4300): 24 January 2022, Paper One, 100 MCQs, 2 short essays and 2 long essays
- Paediatrics end of 2nd semester exam (MBPE 4300): 5 October 2021, 50 MCQs
- Gastrointestinal and liver
Practice questions on Crohn Disease
A patient with Crohn disease shows intestinal biopsy with noncaseating granulomas and dense chronic inflammatory infiltrate. What is the proposed pathogenesis?
- Persistent mycobacterial infection resistant to clearance
- Immune reaction against intestinal bacteria or self antigens
- Foreign body reaction to dietary components
- Deficient innate immunity allowing bacterial overgrowth
- Excessive Th2 response to helminthic parasites
Answer: B. Crohn disease is an inflammatory bowel disease thought to result from inappropriate, unregulated immune responses against normal intestinal bacteria (commensal flora) and possibly self antigens in genetically susceptible individuals. This is an immune-mediated granulomatous inflammation. While early theories suggested persistent mycobacterial infection (Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis), this has not b
Crohns' disease is characterized by the following main gross feature
- Cobble stone appearance with skip lesions
- Continuous ulcers
- Only affects the colon
- Lesions are limited to the mucosa and submucosa
- Malabsorptive syndromes are rare ✅ Answer: A
Answer: A. Crohn's disease typically presents with transmural inflammation, skip lesions, and a cobblestone appearance of the mucosa.
NOT a feature of Crohn's disease
- Affects ileum and colon
- Skip lesions
- Thick bowel wall
- Toxic megacolon
Answer: D. Toxic megacolon is a characteristic complication of Ulcerative Colitis, not typically Crohn's disease. ---