[Recurrence in ulcerative colitis following colectomy?--Only what may be, can be (author's transl)].

A 19 year old patient developed signs of a "prestomal ileitis" 5 1/2 years following proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis. A reoperation was necessary because of "toxic megaileum"; these signs were explained by recurrence of ulcerative colitis involving the terminal ileum. A first report from 1976 must be revised because of further observation of the patient: 1 1/2 year following this complication Crohn's disease in this patient could be proven by endoscopic and bioptic examination. This diagnosis was not possible at the time of first report: findings by x-ray, endoscopy and microscopy were lacking typical signs of Crohn's disease.