What are fistulae?
These are abnormal passageways between the inflamed intestinal tissue and some adjoining tissue or another segment of intestine. These sinus tracts are characteristic of Crohn’s disease, particularly when connecting two segments of intestine or burrowing from the ileum to areas within the abdominal cavity. Complicated fistulae occur around the anus and rectum in Crohn’s disease. Fistulae are not characteristic of ulcerative colitis, although they occasionally occur in the rectal region or between the rectum and vagina.
