AIM:Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and endoanalultrasound which are established imaging methods forperianal inflammatory lesions in patients with Crohn’sdisease require expensive specialized equipments andexpertise.We investigated the feasibility and sensitivity oftranscutaneous perianal ultrasound(PAUS)using regularultrasound probes in the imaging of perianal inflammatorylesions.The sonographic findings were correlated to pelvicMR]-scans.METHODS:We performed PAUS in 25 patients with Crohn’sdisease and clinical signs of perianal inflammatory disease.Wibhin a median of 10 d(range 0-75)these patients underwentMRI of the pelvis.Regular convex and linear high resolutionprobes were used for PAUS.The sonographic findings werecorrelated to the MRI findings by blinded investigators.RESULTS:The sonographic investigations were welltolerated by all patients.Fistulae typically presented ashypoechoic tracks.Twenty-nine fistulae were detected in22 patients.Abscesses were detected in 7 patients andpresented as hypo-or anechoic formations.Twenty-six of29 fistulae and 6 of 7 abscesses could be confirmed byMRI.Kappa statistics showed an excellent agreement(kappa>0.83)between the two imaging methods.CONCLUSION:PAUS is a simple,painless,feasible,real-time method that can be performed without specific patientpreparation which is comparable in its sensitivity to pelvicMRI in the detection of perianal fistulae and/or abscesses.PAUS can especially be recommended as a screening toolin acute perianal disorders such as perianal abscess andfor follow-up studies of perianal inflammatory disease. AIM: Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and endoanalultrasound which are established imaging methods for periranal inflammatory lesions in patients with Crohn’s disease require expensive specialized equipments andexpertise. We investigated the feasibility and sensitivity of transcutaneous perianal ultrasound (PAUS) using regularultrasound probes in the imaging of perianal inflammatory lesions. The sonographic findings were correlated to pelvic MR] -scans. METHODS: We performed PAUS in 25 patients with Crohn’s disease and clinical signs of perianal inflammatory disease. Wibhin a median of 10 d (range 0-75) these patients underwent MRI the pelvis. Regular convex and linear high resolution probes were used for PAUS.The sonographic investigations werecorrelated to the MRI findings by blinded investigators .RESULTS: The sonographic investigations were welltolerated by all patients. Fistulae typically presented ashypoechoic tracks. Twenty-nine fistulae were detected in22 patients.Abscesses were detected in 7 patient s and presented as hypo-or anechoic formations. Twenty-six of 29 fistulae and 6 of 7 abscesses could be confirmed by MRI. Kappa statistics showed an excellent agreement (kappa> 0.83) between the two imaging methods. CONCLUSION: PAUS is a simple, painless, feasible, real-time method that can be performed in no detection of pelvic MRI in the detection of perianal fistulae and / or abscesses. PAUS can especially be recommended as a screening toolin acute perianal disorders such as perianal abscess andfor follow -up studies of perianal inflammatory disease.