Differentiating Crohn's colitis from ulcerative colitis. A rundown of likenesses and dissimilarities.

Crohn's colitis and ulcerative colitis are two distinct clinical entities with differing clinical, pathologic, endoscopic, and radiographic findings. Because of distinct differences in their response to surgical and, in some instances, medical management, clinical separation of these two unique disease states is important. Although at times diagnostic confusion may persist, thorough clinical evaluation, including the judicious use of mucosal biopsy, yields the correct diagnosis in the majority of patients.