Diagnostic Procedures for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Laboratory, Endoscopy, Pathology, Imaging and Beyond

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and unclassified colitis) mainly affect young adults, with a prevalence of up to 1%. Diagnostic procedures are required to establish the correct diagnosis in the first place, to handle further flares, and to detect complications such as colitis-associated cancer or extraintestinal manifestations. Both clinical chemistry including iron as well as vitamins and particularly biomarkers have to be tested on a regular basis. Imaging, e.g., intestinal ultrasound and magnetic resonance enterography, as well as endoscopy, plays a pivotal role in establishing the correct diagnosis and to detect complications (e.g., scaring, stenosis, fistulas, or cancer). Histopathology, including immunohistochemistry (e.g., CMV), is initially and in due course important, as are infectious disease laboratory tests (e.g., clostridium difficile or CMV). Recent advances have been made in regard to pharmacosurveillance (e.g., anti-TNF-a antibody trough levels). Pharmacogenomics, molecular imaging (e.g., endocytoscopy), and dysplasia detection using artificial-intelligence-supported colonoscopy are currently hot research topics. Clinical decision support systems on IBD have started to emerge recently. Therefore, the current Special Issue covers both modern high-end diagnostics as well as future directions in IBD-related diagnostics.

Prof. Dr. Joerg C. Hoffmann
Guest Editor

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