Diseases of the intestine mimicking Crohn's disease.

We describe five patients who were initially thought to have Crohn's disease and were treated accordingly. The original diagnosis was based upon clinical presentation, roentgenograms, and histological examination, but subsequent follow-up showed that diagnosis to be in error. The following diagnoses were established instead: tuberculosis, Actinomyces Israeli infection, reaction to gold therapy, metastatic cancer, and linitis plastica. We stress the importance of considering conditions that can mimic Crohn's disease.