Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting the large bowel.
When to get help quickly: Urgent review is important if bleeding is heavy, diarrhoea is frequent, the abdomen is swelling, fever develops, or the person is becoming weak or dehydrated.
Common symptoms
Common symptoms include bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, urgency to use the toilet, tiredness, weight loss, and symptoms that come in flare-ups.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps when doctors need to assess how much of the bowel is inflamed, look for complications, or evaluate a severe flare that may need hospital treatment.
What radiology does
CT or MRI may be used to assess extent, complications, and severe flare-ups, although endoscopy remains central to diagnosis.
What usually happens next
Management may include anti-inflammatory medicines, biologic therapy, nutrition support, monitoring, and sometimes surgery.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.
Related scan guides
- Abdomen MRIAn Abdomen MRI is a highly specialized scan focusing on the major organs inside your belly. It uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to provide detailed images of your liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and bile ducts.
- Barium EnemaA Barium Enema (also called a Lower GI Series) is a special X-ray examination used to visualize the large intestine (colon) and rectum. It helps detect problems such as inflammation, narrowing, diverticula, or tumors...
- MR Enterography (Small Bowel)An MR Enterography is a special MRI scan focused specifically on the small intestine. It is highly effective for investigating abdominal pain, internal bleeding, and tracking inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease.