II Level Master in Intestinal Ultrasound in Inflammatory Bowel Disease A.Y. 2026/2027

The II level Master in “Intestinal Ultrasound in Inflammatory Bowel Disease” aims to provide and strengthen the competencies concerning the role and indications of intestinal ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs).

The expected learning outcomes, to be assessed through frontal teaching, professional training and the final thesis, consist of:

a) acquiring knowldege of the normal and pathological ultrasound anatomy of the small and large intestine;

b) gaining both theoretical and practical competencies in intestinal ultrasound techniques;

c) developing up-to-date knowledge of the indications and results of intestinal ultrasound procedures, in order to promote a non-invasive approach for the diagnosis and follow-up of IBDs.

Intestinal Bowel Ultrasound procedures have peculiar features that make these techniques unique among the diagnostic tools for IBDs.

As a matter of fact, the intestinal ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging method, that doesn’t use oral or intravenous contrast agents except in selected cases; it can be performed in real time (Point of the care ultrasound, POCUS) allowing to speed up the medical decision-making process; it is well tolerated by patients, making it a highly repeatable and strategically valuable techniques in the era of "Treat-to-target" and "Tight control" strategies; it also has a diagnostic accuracy comparable to the more invasive and expensive imaging methods such as MR enterography and CT enterography. Moreover, the development of ultrasound scores for the activity and severity of IBDs make it an accurate and reliable alternative to colonoscopy, which therefore today sees its field of use limited to particular situations in which it is necessary to perform a biopsy sampling.

Students will become aware of the increasing use of intestinal ultrasound during outpatient visits, providing information about the presence, activity and severity of the disease; the response to treatment; the developement of any penetrating and/or stenosing complications requiring a surgical approach. 

The training pathway requires both adequate knowledge of the ultrasound anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract - particularly of the small and large intestine - and the development of technical skills.

The course aims to provide participants with comprehensive knowledge of the devices and technique use in the intestinal ultrasound, as well as the ability to evaluate its indications and its results.

Significant emphasis will be placed on hands-on training through sessions in the ultrasound room, where participants will initially act as observers and subsequently progress to performing examinations under supervision.

The objective of the course is to enable participants with no prior experience to become autonomous in performing intestinal ultrasound, or, for those already experienced, to refine their management skills and achieve proficiency in advanced techniques.