Intestinal conditions mimicking Crohn's disease

Increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease in women with endometriosis: a nationwide Danish cohort study

“…The two disease entities have been discussed as potentially differential diagnoses7 16 17 and have therefore been described in case reports of one disease mimicking the other 18 19. An initial diagnostic mistake between endometriosis and IBD is possible, as endometriosis normally presents with pelvic pain as the most predominant symptom 5 20.…”

“…An initial diagnostic mistake between endometriosis and IBD is possible, as endometriosis normally presents with pelvic pain as the most predominant symptom 5 20. Also, ileal and sigmoid endometriosis may mimic Crohn's disease with inflammation and stricturing of the bowel 7. However, the differential diagnostic problem primarily lies in a primary diagnosis of CD with an atypical clinical course or medical response, which may turn out to be endometriosis at a later stage,7 a situation that does not explain the observed increased risk of IBD decades after a diagnosis of endometriosis.…”

“…Also, ileal and sigmoid endometriosis may mimic Crohn's disease with inflammation and stricturing of the bowel 7. However, the differential diagnostic problem primarily lies in a primary diagnosis of CD with an atypical clinical course or medical response, which may turn out to be endometriosis at a later stage,7 a situation that does not explain the observed increased risk of IBD decades after a diagnosis of endometriosis. Interestingly, a Belgian case series reported on eight female patients, who underwent surgery for complicated CD and were diagnosed with intestinal endometriosis in the ileum (n=6), colon (n=1), and ileum and rectum (n=1) in addition to simultaneous classical features of CD in endometriosis-free parts of the intestine, leading the authors to suggest that co-occurrence of the two diseases is possible 21…”

“…Both diseases may also affect the bowel and may cause abdominal pain 7 8. Ileal endometriosis is a differential diagnosis of CD, since both diseases may cause inflammation, induration, thickening and stricturing of the small bowel 7. Further, in approximately 4% of patients with biopsy-proven endometriosis the appendix is involved 8.…”