Diagnostic Considerations

Crohn disease has overlapping features with Behçet disease, namely gastrointestinal, cutaneous, articular, ocular, and cardiac manifestations.^[121]The combination of arterial aneurysms and venous thrombosis should raise the suspicion of a diagnosis of Behçet disease. Finding a single or a few, large, discrete, and round or oval ulcerations in the ileocecal area also suggests Behçet disease. In Crohn disease, longitudinal ulcers (defined as ≥4-5 cm) in a discontinuous distribution, cobblestone appearance, and/or small aphthous ulcerations arranged in a longitudinal fashion are usually found. Histologic findings also help in distinguishing both entities.

Differential Diagnoses

Acute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (ACLE)
Acute Febrile Neutrophilic Dermatosis (Sweet Syndrome)
Aphthous Stomatitis
Crohn Disease
Dermatologic Manifestations of Herpes Simplex
Dermatologic Manifestations of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Erythema Multiforme
Erythema Nodosum
Familial Mediterranean Fever
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
PFAPA (periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenopathy) syndrome
Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Reactive Arthritis

Workup

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Media Gallery

Minor aphthous ulcer.
Major aphthous ulcer.
Herpetiform oral ulcer.
A characteristic genital ulcer on scrotum.
A single ulcer on vulva.
Erythema nodosum–like lesions on skin.
Papulopustular eruptions.
Sweet syndrome–like lesion.
Typical positive pathergy reaction at injection site.
Ocular involvement showing posterior uveitis.
CT angiogram showing pulmonary artery aneurysm in a Behçet disease patient. Courtesy of Mohanad Elfishawi, MD, Rheumatology Department, Cairo University.
Acneiform lesions in a Behçet disease patient. Courtesy of Mohanad Elfishawi, MD, Rheumatology Department, Cairo University.
Superficial thrombophlebitis in a Behçet disease patient. Courtesy of Mohanad Elfishawi, MD, Rheumatology Department, Cairo University.
Postphlebitic limb in a Behçet disease patient. Courtesy of Mohanad Elfishawi, MD, Rheumatology Department, Cairo University.
Acneiform lesions in a patient with Behçet disease (an inflamed nodule and noninflammatory comedones). Courtesy of Mohanad Elfishawi, MD, Rheumatology Department, Cairo University.
Radial artery aneurysm with its effect distally on index finger in a Behçet disease patient. Courtesy of Mohanad Elfishawi, MD, Rheumatology Department, Cairo University.

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Author

Amira M Elbendary, MD, MBBCh, MSc Visiting Dermatopathology Fellow, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology; Lecturer, Department of Dermatology, Kasr Alainy University Hospitals, Cairo University, Egypt

Amira M Elbendary, MD, MBBCh, MSc is a member of the following medical societies: Bloom’s Syndrome Association, Egyptian Medical Syndicate, International Dermoscopy Society, Medical Dermatology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Dirk M Elston, MD Professor and Chairman, Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

David F Butler, MD Former Section Chief of Dermatology, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System; Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Founding Chair, Department of Dermatology, Scott and White Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Phi Beta Kappa, Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Warren R Heymann, MD Head, Division of Dermatology, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Warren R Heymann, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Elsevier; WebMD<br/>Served as a speaker for various universities, dermatology societies, and dermatology departments.

Additional Contributors

David P Fivenson, MD Associate Director, St Joseph Mercy Hospital Dermatology Program, Ann Arbor, Michigan

David P Fivenson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Michigan State Medical Society, Society for Investigative Dermatology, Photomedicine Society, Wound Healing Society, Michigan Dermatological Society, Medical Dermatology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Dongsik Bang, MD, PhD Vice Director, Severance Hospital; Professor, Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea