IBD Milestones at Mount Sinai

1925 First report of colon cancer in a patient with ulcerative colitis.
First detailed description of regional enteritis, by Crohn, Ginzburg and Oppenheimer.
Description of cancer of the small bowel in a series of patients with Crohn’s disease
1960 Description of toxic dilation of the colon in ulcerative colitis, and of its management with corticosteroids
Presentation of the radiologic findings of segmental (Crohn’s) colitis
1968 Launch of the Foundation for Research in Ileitis, which eventually becomes the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America
Demonstration, through the largest study of the natural history of surgery for Crohn’s disease, of the increased risk of re-operation in perforating disease
Description of the spectrum of extra-intestinal manifestations of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis; identification of amyloidosis and urologic disorders as complications of inflammatory bowel disease.
1979 Identification of risk factors for the development of cancer in ulcerative colitis
1980 Demonstration, through a double-bind controlled trial of the efficacy of 6-mercaptopurine in the treatment of Crohn’s disease
1983 Demonstration of the efficacy of ACTH in the treatment of ulcerative colitis
1990 Identification of intestinal epithelial cell defects as playing a role in the aberrant mucosal immune response in inflammatory bowel disease
1994 Demonstration of the effectiveness of cyclosporine in preventing colectomy in patients with severe ulcerative colitis
1999 Leadership of the study of infliximab in the treatment of perianal fistulizing disease
Demonstration of the safe removal of adenomatous polyps in the setting of ulcerative colitis
2001-2003 Contributions to the understanding of dysplasia, including the high risk of colon cancer in Crohn’s colitis and the risk of progression of low grade dysplasia to cancer.

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