Systemic manifestations – do not forget the small bowel

Abstract

Purpose of review Systemic diseases can afflict the small bowel (SB) but be challenging to diagnose. In this review, we aim to provide a broad overview of these conditions and to summarise their management. Recent findings Small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) is an important modality to investigate pathology in the SB. SB imaging can be complementary to SBCE for mural and extramural involvement and detection of multiorgan involvement or lymphadenopathy. Device assisted enteroscopy provides a therapeutic arm, to SBCE enabling histology and therapeutics to be carried out. Summary SB endoscopy is essential in the diagnosis, management and monitoring of these multi-system conditions. Collaboration across SB centres to combine experience will help to improve the management of some of these rarer SB conditions.