Crohn's disease with multiple jejunum and ileum lesions: a case report

Abstract

Crohn's disease (CD) affecting the jejunum and ileum is uncommon and its diagnosis can be challenging. This case report describes a 35 year old male patient who had been experiencing intermittent periumbilical pain, diarrhoea and fever for five years. Despite undergoing gastroscopy, colonoscopy and capsule endoscopy; no significant abnormalities were found. This case was seen at the Shenzhen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Shenzhen, China. However, the patient underwent a double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE), which revealed multiple ulcers in the jejunum and ileum, leading to a confirmed diagnosis of CD. The patient was successfully treated with infliximab to relieve symptoms. DBE can be particularly valuable in diagnosing CD in young patients with symptoms when conventional endoscopic techniques have been unsuccessful. This case highlights the importance of considering small bowel disease in patients with CD symptoms and the potential benefits of DBE in diagnosing such cases.