13. How did Crohn first describe Crohn’s disease?
Correct answer: Crohn first described its occurrence in the ileum and termed it ‘regional ileitis’. However, this description is inaccurate, as the disease may affect any part of the alimentary tract from the mouth to the anus.
12. What is Crohn’s disease?
Correct answer: Crohn’s disease is a non-specific inflammatory disease of the alimentary canal, with diseased segments sandwiched between normal segments (i.e. it is discontinuous). Crohn first described its occurrence in the ileum and termed it ‘regional ileitis’. However, this description…
11. How would you treat a Meckel’s diverticulum?
Correct answer: Treatment involves resection of the diverticulum.
10. Where is Meckel’s diverticulum typically situated?
Correct answer: In the right iliac fossa.
9. How might a barium follow-through be useful in the investigation of a Meckel’s diverticulum?
Correct answer: This may show the diverticulum arising from the antimesenteric border of the ileum.
8. How might a technetium scan be useful in the investigation of Meckel’s diverticulum?
Correct answer: Radiolabelled technetium (99mTc) is taken up by gastric mucosa, and scintigraphy will outline the stomach and, in addition, the Meckel’s diverticulum, usually near the right iliac fossa.
7. How would you investigate a Meckel’s diverticulum?
Correct answer: Technetium scan; barium follow-through or small bowel enema; computed tomography scan.
6. How do most Meckel’s diverticula present?
Correct answer: Most are incidental findings.
5. How can Meckel’s diverticulum cause peptic ulceration? How does this present?
Correct answer: Peptic ulceration due to contained heterotopic gastric epithelium, which bears HCl-secreting parietal cells. This particularly occurs in children and characteristically is the cause of melaena at about 10 years old. Rarely, the peptic ulcer perforates or gives rise…
4. How does the acute inflammation of a Meckel’s diverticulum present?
Correct answer: Clinically identical to acute appendicitis.
