These both are inflammatory bowel diseases characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. SimilaritiesFactorulcerative colitisCrohn diseaseDistributionAffects large bowel onlyAffects small bowel and large bowelHistologyGranulomata absent Inflammation usually confined to mucosa The increase in white cells tend to be polymorphsPresence of granulomas are almost diagnostic Inflammation extends through the mucosa and muscle of the bowel The increase in white cells tend to be lymphocytesRadiologyStrictures and fissures are much less common in UC Symmetrical inflammationStrictures are common Deep fissures and fistulae are common Asymmetrical inflammationEndoscopy findingRectum always aff ected Inflammation is uniform Bowel wall is thin with loss of vascular pattern (blood vessels not visible)Rectum frequently spared Inflammation not continuous (presence of skip lesions) Bowel wall is thickened and has a ‘cobblestoned’ appearance due to deep ulcers and swelling of the tissue DietUnaffected by dietRemission achieved with enteral feed followed by exclusion/ elimination dietClinical appearanceWeight loss usually related to the severity of active disease Bloody diarrhoea Abdominal mass uncommonPatients often thin and may be malnourished due to intestinal malabsorption of nutrients Diarrhoea - only sometimes with blood Abdominal mass commonSmokingAssociated with non-smokers Appears to protect against diseaseStrongly associated with smoking Predicts a worse course of disease Increases risk of surgery & further surgery Solution These both are inflammatory bowel diseases characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. SimilaritiesFactorulcerative colitisCrohn diseaseDistributionAffects large bowel onlyAffects small bowel and large bowelHistologyGranulomata absent Inflammation usually confined to mucosa The increase in white cells tend to be polymorphsPresence of granulomas are almost diagnostic Inflammation extends through the mucosa and muscle of the bowel The increase in white cells tend to be lymphocytesRadiologyStrictures and fissures are much less common in UC Symmetrical inflammationStrictures are common Deep fissures and fistulae are common Asymmetrical inflammationEndoscopy findingRectum always aff ected Inflammation is uniform Bowel wall is thin with loss of vascular pattern (blood vessels not visible)Rectum frequently spared Inflammation not continuous (presence of skip lesions) Bowel wall is thickened and has a ‘cobblestoned’ appearance due to deep ulcers and swelling of the tissue DietUnaffected by dietRemission achieved with enteral feed followed by exclusion/ elimination dietClinical appearanceWeight loss usually related to the severity of active disease Bloody diarrhoea Abdominal mass uncommonPatients often thin and may be malnourished due to intestinal malabsorption of nutrients Diarrhoea - only sometimes with blood Abdominal mass commonSmokingAssociated with non-smokers Appears to protect against diseaseStrongly .