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