Ulcerative colitis vs. Crohn's disease
Location
Transmural involvement
Symptoms
Granulomas
Does ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease increase my cancer risk?
Does surgery cure ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease?
What's the difference between ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Which condition is more serious, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease?
Can you have both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease?
Do ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease lead to other conditions?
Can certain medicines cause or aggravate ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease?
Does ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease cause a high antinuclear antibody (ANA) level?
Is Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis considered a leukocytic condition?
Are ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease caused by a virus?
Does smoking cause ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease?
Content
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for two main conditions, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Both cause inflammation in the digestive tract and are considered chronic conditions, which means they are long-term conditions. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease tend to flare and calm down over time. Both are treatable with medicines.
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can look similar at first, with symptoms such as diarrhea, belly pain and fatigue. But where they occur in the intestines and how deep the inflammation goes, known as transmural involvement, are different. Those differences help explain the symptoms and help your healthcare team decide which tests to order and what treatments or surgeries might be recommended. Some of the main differences between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease include:
