Strategies to Distinguish Perianal Fistulas Related to Crohn’s Disease From Cryptoglandular Disease: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Abstract Background Management of perianal fistulas differs based on fistula type. We aimed to assess the ability of diagnostic strategies to differentiate between Crohn’s disease (CD) and cryptoglandular disease (CGD) in patients with perianal fistulas. Methods We performed a diagnostic accuracy systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic search of electronic databases was performed from inception through February 2021 for studies assessing a diagnostic test’s ability to distinguish fistula types. We calculated weighted summary estimates with 95% confidence intervals for sensitivity and specificity by bivariate analysis, using fixed effects models when data were available from 2 or more studies. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool was used to assess study quality. Results Twenty-one studies were identified and included clinical symptoms (2 studies; n=154), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics (3 studies; n=296), ultrasound characteristics (7 studies; n=1003), video capsule endoscopy (2 studies; n=44), fecal calprotectin (1 study; n=56), and various biomarkers (8 studies; n=440). MRI and ultrasound characteristics had the most robust data. Rectal inflammation, multiple-branched fistula tracts, and abscesses on pelvic MRI and the Crohn’s ultrasound fistula sign, fistula debris, and bifurcated fistulas on pelvic ultrasonography had high specificity (range, 80%-95% vs 89%-96%) but poor sensitivity (range, 17%-37% vs 31%-63%), respectively. Fourteen of 21 studies had risk of bias on at least 1 of the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies domains. Conclusions Limited high-quality evidence suggest that imaging characteristics may help discriminate CD from CGD in patients with perianal fistulas. Larger, prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and to evaluate if combining multiple diagnostic tests can improve diagnostic sensitivity. Lay Summary Differentiating between perianal fistulas related to cryptoglandular disease and Crohn’s disease is essential to guide disease-specific management. A variety of imaging characteristics from magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound had high specificity but relatively low sensitivity for predicting perianal fistulas associated with Crohn’s disease.