Korean J Med.
2001 May;60(5):444-447.
The diagnostic course of ulcerative colitis in Korea
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan Collage of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan Collage of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Health Promotion Center, University of Ulsan Collage of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
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BACKGROUND: In Korea, the incidence of ulcerative colitis has been very low, but there are few epidemiologic studies about ulcerative colitis. The aim of the present study is to obtain basic epidemiologic information about the diagnostic course of ulcerative colitis in Korea.
METHODS
The diagnostic course and methods of 150 patients with ulcerative coltis were analyzed by standard questionnaire and interview.
RESULTS
The median time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 5 months (2 weeks-10 years). The initial diagnosis made at the institution first visited was ulcerative colitis in 31.3%, hemorrhoid in 16.7%, dysentery in 8.7%, irritable bowel syndrome in 9.3%, enteritis in 12.0%, and others in 22.0%. The diagnostic rate of ulcerative colitis among institutions was 13.0% in clinics (14/108), 28.6% in hospitals (8/28), 47.9% in general hospitals (23/48), and 83.3% in academic medical centers (105/126). Among 39 patients who have received both barium study and endoscopic evaluation at the time of diagnosis at Asan Medical Center, the overall sensitivity of barium study was 76.9% (30/39) (p=0.001). Depending on the extent of the disease, the diagnostic sensitivity of barium study was 50.0% in proctitis (5/10), 69.2% in left-sided colitis (9/13), and 100% in extensive colitis (16/16).
CONCLUSION
For early detection of ulcerative colitis, it should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of rectal bleeding, and sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is preferred to barium study for evaluation of patients with mild symptoms. We suggest that endoscopic procedures are necessary to get more accurate epidemiologic data.
Keyword
MeSH Terms
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Academic Medical Centers
Barium
Chungcheongnam-do
Colitis
Colitis, Ulcerative*
Colonoscopy
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Dysentery
Enteritis
Epidemiologic Studies
Hemorrhage
Hemorrhoids
Hospitals, General
Humans
Incidence
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Korea*
Proctitis
Sigmoidoscopy
Ulcer*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Barium
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