plain abdominal radiograph should be carried out - there may be signs of sacro-ileitis and skip lesions, although the latter are hard to see on the plain film.
small bowel contrast study there may be strictures, fistulae and ulceration - rose thorn ulcers - and cobblestone mucosal surfaces. Kantor's string sign - luminal narrowing of the ileum - may be present, with clinical features of partial obstruction.
large bowel enema may demonstrate discontinuous skip lesions with normal bowel between, a ragged luminal outline due to ulceration, and loss of haustration. Other features may include rose thorn ulcers and pseudo-diverticulae caused by fibrotic stricturing.
CT scanning may show an inflammatory mass or an abscess.
labelled white cell scan may also be helpful in the demonstration of the extent of inflammation if barium radiology is equivocal.
ultrasound is useful in detection of abscesses.
radionucleotide scanning may be useful in detection of areas of disease activity.
MRI is the procedure of choice for the investigation of complex perianal disease.
in children the bone age may be two or more years less than the chronological age.
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