Terminal ileitis is not always Crohn's disease

Abstract

The most frequent localization of Crohn's disease (CD) is terminal ileum. Clinical, laboratory, endoscopic and histopathological evaluation is required for the diagnosis CD. However, there are many other diseases affecting the terminal ileum and mimicking CD. In this article the authors discuss about these diseases, in terms of differential diagnosis, and point out the facts clinician should consider when facing patient with symptoms suggesting terminal ileitis.