| Summary: | Effective management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease
(IBD) depends upon accurate diagnosis. The classic radiological features of
this group of diseases have been extensively described. In addition, newer
modalities such as ultrasound, computed tomography scanning, magnetic
resonance imaging and nuclear medicine have been added to the diagnostic
armamentarium. In spite of this the patient with IBD often presents a diagnostic
dilemma as these conditions may mimic, and be mimicked by, other diseases. In
particular, infectious, neoplastic and vascular etiologies should be considered in
the differential diagnosis of IBD and suspected especially if the radiological
appearances are not typical. Accurate diagnosis requires the selection of
radiological examinations appropriate to the clinical situation which must be
performed and interpreted with an awareness of the many pitfalls in this type of
diagnosis.
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