Intestinal Ultrasound in the Assessment of Luminal Crohn’s Disease

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The review focuses on the role of intestinal ultrasound in Crohn’s disease, summarizing its technical aspects and outlining its main applications. It is globally comprehensive and easy to read and paragraphs are well-structured. The text covers all the main aspects of the proposed topic.However, some points may be implemented. I suggest for example to provide a wider explanation about the meaning of sonographic mesenteric fat alterations and lymphadenopathies in paragraph 3.4. Similarly, in paragraphs 3.6 and 5, the role of enhancement techniques in assessing disease activity (especially CEUS) or complications (especially SICUS) and in monitoring response to therapy (both CEUS and SICUS) may be more powerfully stressed, including more updated literature evidence. Minor tapering and punctuation mistakes should be corrected. 

Tables appear clear and useful, especially table 3 which accurately summarizes ultrasonographic scores to assess Crohn’s disease activity. However, table 3 may be better placed after paragraph 4 (IUS indices), as well as Table 1 may better fit when discussing about Crohn’s disease complications (paragraphs 3.6-3.7) and not in the paragraph about Crohn’s activity assessment.

Finally, I suggest, if available, to insert an US image to show the main features of Crohn’s disease: it could further improve the quality of the review.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The review article by Anuj et al., illustrates the benefits of intestinal ultrasound in the assessment of Luminal Crohn’s disease. In this article, authors have demonstrated the how IUS is performed and how the assessment of IUS have advantages over other assessment techniques to monitor the disease activity. The article is well written and organized.

Specific comments:

·         Addition of another figure of graphical/pictorial representation will help the reader. Authors can prepare this figure to be a synopsis of the study such as role of IUS in disease assessment, pregnancy, and its advantages over other techniques.

·         Although IUS advantages have been described through out the manuscript, there were no disadvantages mentioned. Add the limitations of the IUS (such as obese patients etc.,).

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf