Transabdominal US presents a non-invasive means of imaging internal organs that imposes no significant health risks or undue discomfort upon the patient. The use of abdominal US for the evaluation of IBD was implemented as early as 1979, where wall thickening of the terminal ileum and cecum, with accompanying inflammatory changes in the mesentery, yielded recognizable patterns in both longitudinal and transverse images.11 These initial ultrasonographic images lacked sufficient resolution to provide a sensitive measure of disease activity, but technological advances in high frequency US have greatly improved resolution over the past twenty years. Still, the location and chronicity of certain conditions may decrease the efficacy of this imaging technique, making endoscopy the preferred method of investigation of GI problems. At present, there are several research groups actively investigating the application of US for the management of IBD. The combined results of these studies, in addition to the relatively wide availability, low cost, and easy use of US equipment, support the rationale for developing US into a useful tool for the evaluation of IBD.