The use of contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis and follow-up of inflammatory abdominal masses associated with Crohn's disease.

1. Contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound has a high sensitivity and specificity in the detection and evaluation of inflammatory abdominal masses associated with Crohn's disease. 2. The spatial resolution and sensitivity of this technique allows the detection of small inflammatory abdominal masses of 1 cm or above. 3. The absence of any associated X-ray radiation allows repeated examinations to be undertaken. This facilitates assessment of disease progression and response to treatment 4. The early detection of the complications of Crohn's disease may facilitate treatment by medical means rather than necessitating surgical intervention. Clinical and biochemical assessment of the complications of Crohn's disease such as abscess, stricture and fistula formation is extremely difficult. Radiological imaging is therefore widely utilized. This includes barium studies, ultrasound, computed tomography and nuclear medicine techniques. Contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound has high sensitivity and specificity in the detection and evaluation of inflammatory abdominal masses associated with Crohn's disease, and compares favourably with computed tomography. The spatial resolution and sensitivity of contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound enables the detection of small inflammatory abdominal masses. The absence of radiation dose to the patient allows multiple and serial examinations to be undertaken. This facilitates assessment of disease progression and response to treatment. The early detection of the extra-mural complications of Crohn's disease and the close monitoring of response to medical treatment may obviate the need for surgical intervention.