Ultrasound for evaluating gastrointestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients: A systematic review

Introduction

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder with unclear pathogenesis, characterized by diverse symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and altered bowel habits. Medical imaging, particularly ultrasound, has gained importance in diagnosing and managing IBS due to its non-invasiveness and affordability. We aim to evaluate the utility of ultrasound (US) in diagnosing and monitoring IBS by assessing various aspects such as intestinal motility, gallbladder function, urinary bladder, gastric function, autonomic dysfunction, and vagus nerve assessment.

Methods

Studies were collected from PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, and the Web of Science. Eligible studies were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Data extraction covered study characteristics (such as country, US device type, patients, age, site of US evaluation, and dyspepsia) and the role of the US in bowel-wall thickness, sigmoid colon motility, gallbladder function, gastric function, autonomic dysfunction, and vagus nerve assessment.

Results

Twenty studies were included, encompassing diverse ultrasound modalities and patient populations. Ultrasound showed promise in assessing bowel-wall thickness, sigmoid colon motility, gallbladder function, gastric function, autonomic dysfunction, and vagus nerve assessment in IBS patients. Notably, ultrasound demonstrated potential for distinguishing between IBS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and aiding in disease prediction and severity assessment.

Conclusion

This comprehensive review underscores the value of ultrasound in diagnosing and managing IBS, offering insights into its diverse applications and diagnostic accuracies across various aspects of gastrointestinal function. However, further research is warranted to address the limitations and optimize the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in IBS management.