New Ultrasound Technique Offers Real-Time, Radiation-Free Monitoring for IBD Patients

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital has become the first medical center in the Washington, D.C. area to introduce bedside intestinal ultrasound (IUS) as a tool for monitoring inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This includes conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which have traditionally required more invasive or complex diagnostic tools like colonoscopies, CT scans, MRI imaging, and lab tests.

These traditional methods often involve sedation, radiation exposure, anesthesia, and preparation like bowel cleansing, making the monitoring process more cumbersome for patients. In contrast, the new IUS approach allows physicians to evaluate inflammation directly at the bedside without any prep, sedation, or radiation, offering a safer and more affordable option for ongoing disease assessment.

While relatively new to U.S. hospitals, this imaging technique has been used by gastroenterologists in other parts of the world for more than a decade. International studies and patient experiences have shown that IUS can help individuals and their care teams gain better insights into the disease process, identify the source of symptoms more accurately, and make more informed treatment decisions.

Dr. Mark Mattar, Director of the IBD Center at MedStar Georgetown, emphasized the significance of this new offering: “We’re proud to lead the region in adopting intestinal ultrasound for IBD care. This technology gives us immediate insight into disease activity—without subjecting patients to radiation. And because there’s no sedation, patients remain actively involved in the evaluation process, which is especially valuable in managing chronic conditions like IBD.”

Inflammatory bowel disease affects millions of people across the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 2.4 and 3.1 million Americans are currently living with IBD. Innovations like IUS represent a major advancement in how these individuals can be monitored and treated—with greater comfort, immediacy, and patient involvement than ever before.