A case of Crohn's disease with a characteristic gastric lesions

A 30-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the complaints of hematochezia. He had been diagnosed as ileocolitic Crohn's disease since. 1978, had treated with low-dose 6-mercaptopurine for 7 years, and had controlled well at our hospital. Colonoscopic finding showed longitudinal active ulcer at the sigmoid colon, we diagnosed it as the beeding source and concluded it as the result of the worsening of the primary disease. Steroid enema was performed and the symptom was improved soon. Gastroendoscopic finding showed enlarged folds transversed by fissures in a longitudinal alignment on the greater curvature from the cardia to the lower gastric body and this lesion resembled the "Bamboo Joint-like Erosions" which Yokota et al reported recently, although pathological examination of the gastric mucosa showed no erosions, ulcers nor granuloma. Here we discussed the endoscopic features of the Crohn's disease, reviewing the literatures.