Hi all,
It seems to me I have a rect/vag fistula. Does anyone have any thoughts on how successful an MRI is at picking them up? Do you think they only pick them up if they are large?
Secondly, my gastro thinks having fistula would indicate crohns rather than colitis. What are your thoughts on this. I have a diverted pouch and have had cuffitis for a while so I would have thought that cuffitis could cause the fistula?
Thanks for any advice,
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Finding a fistula does make Cron's more likely, but Crohn's isn't the only cause of fistulas, especially at a surgical site.
This is from the National Institutes of Health:
Most gastrointestinal fistulas occur after surgery. Other causes include:
*Gastrointestinal obstruction
*Inflammatory processes, such as infection or inflammatory bowel disease (most often Crohn's disease)
*Radiation to the abdomen (most often given as part of cancer treatment)
*Trauma, especially penetrating wounds such as those due to a stabbing or gunshot
I had abscesses and fistulae diagnosed with MRI scans last year. They found even very small ones. They needed operative repair. My last incision and drainage was in March and the darn abscess still has not healed. It is only a little sore but is very annoying. My surgeon does not think I have Crohn's disease.
