Abstract

Small Bowel Imaging in Celiac Disease: Is there a role for Small Bowel Ultrasound?

Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2023 Dec;25(12):430-439.doi: 10.1007/s11894-023-00907-3. Epub 2023 Nov 18.

 

Roberta Elisa Rossi 1Anita Busacca 2Luca Brandaleone 2Benedetta Masoni 2Sara Massironi 3Mirella Fraquelli 4Alessandro Repici 2 5

 
     

Author information

1Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy. robertaelisa.rossi@gmail.com.

2Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.

3Division of Gastroenterology and Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Ospedale San Gerardo, and Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.

4Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

5Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, Pieve Emanuele, 20090, Milan, Italy.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The incidence of celiac disease (CD) has increased over the last decades in part due to better disease awareness. Small bowel ultrasound (sb US) enables dynamic assessment of the bowel; although this topic has been addressed, the use of sb US in the diagnosis and in the follow-up of CD patients is limited to a few specialized tertiary referral centers. Herein, we aimed at summarizing the available literature on this topic to better define the potential clinical implications of sb US in CD, also through a comparison with other available diagnostic techniques.

Recent findings: According to available data, sb US can be of help in confirming or excluding CD in patients with clinical suspicion; specifically, the finding of increased gall bladder volume, free abdominal fluid and enlargement of mesenteric lymph nodes reliably and accurately predicts the diagnosis of CD, whereas the absence of bowel dilatation and increased peristalsis may exclude the diagnosis. However, the place of intestinal US in the diagnostic algorithm of CD is likely to vary depending on the probability of the disease in a given population. There are only a few studies on the role of sb US in complicated CD, even if recent reports suggest a possible clinical role. There is a lack of data on follow-up of CD patients, particularly with the aim of detecting a poor diet adherence. According to current data sb US parameters have been shown to be of value in confirming and excluding the diagnosis of CD. Prospective studies with large sample size are warranted to determine whether to include sb US in the available guidelines for CD diagnosis and monitoring.

© Copyright 2013-2024 GI Health Foundation. All rights reserved.
This site is maintained as an educational resource for US healthcare providers only. Use of this website is governed by the GIHF terms of use and privacy statement.