Crohn’s & Colitis Glossary

Treat-to-target

An individualized strategy that defines a treatment target (like remission or low disease activity) and applies a strict regimen (for example, monthly visits and treatment adjustment) to reach that target.

Trigger Food

A food that can make your IBD symptoms worse – such as causing diarrhea, bloating, pain, or vomiting.

Ulcer

A break in the skin or lining of the GI tract. In Crohn’s disease, ulcers can occur anywhere between the mouth and the anus. In ulcerative colitis, ulcers occur in the colon.

Ultrasound

An imaging test in which high-frequency sound waves, not heard by the human ear, are transmitted through body tissues using a transducer, relaying pictures to a computer for display.

Upper endoscopy

A procedure that uses a small endoscope with a light and camera inserted down your throat to look inside the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine.

Video capsule endoscopy

A procedure that allows your doctor to view areas of the small intestine that cannot be reached with traditional scopes or imaging tests. This involves swallowing a capsule (pill)that is equipped with a camera. As it travels through the intestines, the capsule automatically takes pictures that are transmitted into a recorder that you wear around your body.