So where is all the Cancer?

Symptoms resembling those of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common in IBD, particularly Crohn's disease (CD). Careful investigation shows that in many patients with IBD, IBS symptoms indicate occult inflammation or noninflammatory complications of IBD (such as fibrotic strictures, bacterial overgrowth, or bile salt malabsorption). Failure to recognize the frequency with which IBS symptoms occur in patients with IBD may lead to a delay in its diagnosis, and to a failure to offer appropriate anti-inflammatory treatment or other interventions in patients with established IBD. Conversely, underdiagnosis of true IBS can result in inappropriate escalation of their therapy to potentially toxic and expensive drugs.

• View at Publisher
• View at Scopus