Can asymptomatic Chron’s disease be diagnosed in patients with iron deficiency anemia by CT-enterograhpy?

Abstract

It is difficult to diagnose Crohn's disease in the asymptomatic period. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic utility of CT enterography (CTE) in the diagnosis of asymptomatic Crohn's disease (CD) with small intestine involment in patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). 250 patients who underwent CTE examination between 2017 and 2018 were retrospectively scanned. 45 patients who had endoscopic examinations and diagnosed with IDA were included in the study. While one or more pathological findings to explain IDA were observed in 31 (68%) patients with endoscopic examinations, findings that could be explained as CD sequelae were observed in 4 (8.8%) patients. No lesions were observed by CTE in 10 (22.2%) patients. Diagnosis is difficult in mild forms of Crohn’s disease or in periods of remission. In this period, CTE can contribute to the diagnosis as it can also show extraluminal findings.