Current surgical management of Crohn's disease in childhood.

Crohn's disease is a chronic transmural inflammatory disease that may involve any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. It is being reported with increasing frequency in children of all ages. The diagnosis of Crohn's disease in children is dependent on the clinical, radiological, endoscopic, and pathological material that excludes other acute inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Although medical therapy is instituted once the disease is diagnosed, surgery remains an integral part of the overall management of Crohn's disease. Surgical management continues to evolve. It is very important that both surgeon and physician realize that although the disease process cannot be eradicated by surgery, the health and well-being of a child or teenager can be restored to normal for prolonged periods of time, if not permanently.