Gastroduodenal Crohn disease

F. Tootla, R. J. Lucas, E. G. Bernacki and H. Tabor

Symptomatic involvement of the stomach and duodenum is an uncommon manifestation of Crohn disease. Our experience with three young women who had upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms indicates the seriousness of the condition. All three patients required operation for relief of symptoms. Two operations were performed for gastric outlet obstruction and one for massive hemorrhage (a rare complication of gastric involvement). All patients had roentgenographic or gastroscopic evidence suggestive of Crohn disease, and in each the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic means. The operative procedures consisted of distal gastrectomy in two cases and gastrojejunostomy in the third. All three patients have or have had evidence of Crohn disease of the small intestine and none of them responded to medical management. (In the most recent case, medical management included intravenous hyperalimentation.) In our experience, symptomatic involvement of the stomach in Crohn disease will not respond to medical treatment and will require surgical measures for relief.