Endoscopic and Histopathological Characteristics of Newly Diagnosed Crohn's Disease in Vietnam: Insights From a Tertiary IBD Center.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Internal Medicine Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.
- 2Department of Gastroenterology University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.
- 3Department of Internal Medicine and Gastro-Hepato Integrated Research Team (GHIRT-002.TCM2025) School of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.
- 4Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand.
- 5Department of Histology-Embryology and Pathology School of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.
Abstract
Background and aims
Crohn's disease (CD) is rapidly emerging in Asia, yet endoscopic and histopathological characteristics at diagnosis remain poorly described in Southeast Asia. We aimed to describe baseline endoscopic and histologic features in Vietnamese adults with newly diagnosed CD.Methods
We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study of consecutive adults newly diagnosed with CD from June 2019 to June 2024 at a tertiary inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) center in Vietnam. Ileocolonoscopy with segmental biopsies was performed in all patients. Endoscopic findings, histopathology, and Montreal classification were systematically recorded.Results
Eighty patients (median age 34.5 years, 62.5% male) were included. The median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 12 months (IQR 2-24); 78.8% had ≥ 1 prior inconclusive colonoscopy, and 25% had undergone intestinal resection before confirmed diagnosis. Ileocolonic disease (L3) predominated (71.3%). At diagnosis, 28.8% of patients had stricturing and 28.8% had penetrating disease behavior. Endoscopically, terminal ileal involvement was observed in 77.6%, cecal involvement in 56.6%, and skip lesions in 72.4%. Aphthous ulcers were seen in 13.2%, longitudinal ulcers in 14.5%, and cobblestoning in 6.6%. Luminal narrowing and fistulous openings were seen in 32.9% and 5.3%, respectively. The overall endoscopic impression was consistent with CD in 46.1%, non-specific in 35.5%, suggestive of colorectal cancer (CRC) in 13.2%, and suggestive of intestinal tuberculosis in 3.9%. Histologically, chronic inflammation was universal and non-caseating epithelioid granulomas were identified in 31.6%. The pathologist's conclusion was consistent with CD in 67.1% and non-specific in 30.4%.Conclusions
In this tertiary-center cohort of Vietnamese adults with newly diagnosed CD, the median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 12 months. At diagnosis, 57.5% had stricturing or penetrating behavior, and 25.0% had already undergone intestinal resection. Longitudinal ulcers, cobblestoning, and epithelioid granulomas were each found in a minority of patients, and histopathology was nonspecific in 30.4%. These descriptive data provide a baseline for future comparative studies and for evaluating standardized diagnostic criteria in Vietnam.
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BibTeX
@article{dinh2026endoscopic,
title = {{Endoscopic and Histopathological Characteristics of Newly Diagnosed Crohn's Disease in Vietnam: Insights From a Tertiary IBD Center.}},
author = {Trung Hoang Dinh and Luan Minh Dang and Chuong Dinh Nguyen and Diem Thi-Ngoc Vo and Thong Duy Vo and Hoang Huu Bui and Duc Trong Quach},
journal = {JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/jgh3.70488},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927010},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Endoscopic and Histopathological Characteristics of Newly Diagnosed Crohn's Disease in Vietnam: Insights From a Tertiary IBD Center.
AU - Trung Hoang Dinh
AU - Luan Minh Dang
AU - Chuong Dinh Nguyen
AU - Diem Thi-Ngoc Vo
AU - Thong Duy Vo
AU - Hoang Huu Bui
AU - Duc Trong Quach
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
DO - 10.1002/jgh3.70488
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927010
AB - Background and aims Crohn's disease (CD) is rapidly emerging in Asia, yet endoscopic and histopathological characteristics at diagnosis remain poorly described in Southeast Asia. We aimed to describe baseline endoscopic and histologic features in Vietnamese adults with newly diagnosed CD.Methods We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study of consecutive adults newly diagnosed with CD from June 2019 to June 2024 at a tertiary inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) center in Vietnam. Ileocolonoscopy with segmental biopsies was performed in all patients. Endoscopic findings, histopathology, and Montreal classification were systematically recorded.Results Eighty patients (median age 34.5 years, 62.5% male) were included. The median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 12 months (IQR 2-24); 78.8% had ≥ 1 prior inconclusive colonoscopy, and 25% had undergone intestinal resection before confirmed diagnosis. Ileocolonic disease (L3) predominated (71.3%). At diagnosis, 28.8% of patients had stricturing and 28.8% had penetrating disease behavior. Endoscopically, terminal ileal involvement was observed in 77.6%, cecal involvement in 56.6%, and skip lesions in 72.4%. Aphthous ulcers were seen in 13.2%, longitudinal ulcers in 14.5%, and cobblestoning in 6.6%. Luminal narrowing and fistulous openings were seen in 32.9% and 5.3%, respectively. The overall endoscopic impression was consistent with CD in 46.1%, non-specific in 35.5%, suggestive of colorectal cancer (CRC) in 13.2%, and suggestive of intestinal tuberculosis in 3.9%. Histologically, chronic inflammation was universal and non-caseating epithelioid granulomas were identified in 31.6%. The pathologist's conclusion was consistent with CD in 67.1% and non-specific in 30.4%.Conclusions In this tertiary-center cohort of Vietnamese adults with newly diagnosed CD, the median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 12 months. At diagnosis, 57.5% had stricturing or penetrating behavior, and 25.0% had already undergone intestinal resection. Longitudinal ulcers, cobblestoning, and epithelioid granulomas were each found in a minority of patients, and histopathology was nonspecific in 30.4%. These descriptive data provide a baseline for future comparative studies and for evaluating standardized diagnostic criteria in Vietnam.
SN - 2397-9070
ER -