Inflammatory bowel disease

Crohn's disease, also called regional enteritis, is a chronic inflammation of the intestines. It is most common in the ileum or lower portion of the small intestine but may occur anywhere in the intestinal tract. Ulcerative colitis is a similar inflammation of the colon, or large intestine. These and other IBDs (inflammatory bowel disease) have been linked with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

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Review Date: 12/21/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.

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