How is ulcerative colitis diagnosed?
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Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Initially it may be hard to tell ulcerative colitis from other types of colitis that inflame the colon. So your doctor first has to rule out all infections that could cause colon inflammation. A test called a barium enema looks for colitis in general. If that's been done, and your symptoms (including bloody stool and stomach or rectal pain) still persist two weeks later, then your doctor can turn to other tests.
These include a CT scan and an endoscopy. The latter is a relatively easy outpatient procedure in which an endoscope-a flexible tube with a small camera at the end-is inserted into your body. The doctor views the results on a small monitor. During the endoscopy, the doctor will also take a biopsy of the area being examined.
Initially it may be hard to tell ulcerative colitis from other types of colitis that inflame the colon. So your doctor first has to rule out all infections that could cause colon inflammation. A test called a barium enema looks for colitis in... More -
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered:Your physician will ask you to describe your symptoms, when the symptoms began, and what makes the symptoms better or worse. Next, the doctor will perform a physical exam during which he or she may look for any outward signs and symptoms of IBD such as pain when your doctor presses on areas of your abdomen, mouth sores, rashes, and abdominal masses. Your doctor may take a blood test to determine if you have anemia, a sign of potential bleeding in the intestines, or if you have high levels of white blood cells, which indicate that your body is fighting an infection and that there is inflammation somewhere in your body. In addition, a sample of your bowel movement (stool sample) may be taken to look for signs of bleeding or infection in the intestines. The doctor may also use x-ray, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy to view your intestines look for inflammation or bleeding.
Your physician will ask you to describe your symptoms, when the symptoms began, and what makes the symptoms better or worse. Next, the doctor will perform a physical exam during which he or she may look for any outward signs and symptoms of IBD such... More -
Healthwise answered:Ulcerative colitis can be fairly easy to diagnose, because it normally affects only the colon and rectum. And it usually causes an obvious change in daily bowel habits, such as frequent stools with blood or mucus.
Your doctor may:
- Conduct a medical history and physical exam.
- Look inside your colon and rectum with flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. The doctor uses a small, lighted scope to look inside the intestine. In general, colonoscopy is preferred, because it can be used to see the entire colon. Both procedures can be used to take a sample (biopsy) of intestinal tissue. Biopsies are collected during sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to see if you have ulcerative colitis. A biopsy also may be done to look for cancer.
Other exams and tests that may be used include:
- Abdominal X-ray. It provides a picture of the inside of the abdomen.
- Barium enema. It allows the doctor to examine the colon.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan or MRI. These provide detailed pictures of the inside of the body.
- Stool analysis (including a test for blood in the stool). This test looks for blood, signs of bacterial infection, parasites or white blood cells.
- Blood and urine tests to check for anemia, inflammation or malnutrition. An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, or sed rate) or a C-reactive protein (CRP) blood test may be done to look for infection or inflammation.
Some people have symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but neither Crohn's disease nor ulcerative colitis can be diagnosed. These people have a form of IBD called indeterminate colitis. Doctors believe that it has features of both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Ulcerative colitis can be fairly easy to diagnose, because it normally affects only the colon and rectum. And it usually causes an obvious change in daily bowel habits, such as frequent stools with blood or mucus. Your doctor may: Conduct a medical... More
