Recognition of the characteristics of Crohn's disease                 LI Jie-shou.  Research Institute of General Surgery, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command PLA, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing 210002, China
Abstract    The Crohn's disease is a systemic disease with the main characteristics of chronic intestinal inflammation. The pathogenesis is unclear and is thought to be related with the immunity changes. The whole course of disease is characterized by acute episode and recurrence. Although it has been extensively studied, there is no therapy that could cure it. When complicated with perforation, intestinal obstruction, hemorrhage, local peritonitis, abscess and carcinogenesis, it requires surgical interventions. Therefore, the surgeons, especially the general surgeons, should have a very clear recognition of the disease and make surgical interventions according to its characteristics.