Abstract
There are several non-neoplastic bowel diseases, which include inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease, both of which have been shown to have associated extraintestinal manifestations many of which are cutaneous. The implications of dermatologic manifestations are vast, as earlier identification can spur expedited testing and diagnosis of associated gastrointestinal disease as well as being a marker for gastrointestinal flare ups. It has been estimated that approximately 25.8% of cases of extra-intestinal manifestations precede the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. This is especially useful as skin diseases may be the first easily recognizable feature of an underlying gastrointestinal condition. In the case of inflammatory bowel disease, lack of timely intervention either medically or surgically can lead to progression and worsening of symptoms, which if left untreated could lead to chronic and severe disease as well as malignancy. Similarly, in celiac disease, earlier diagnosis and treatment/ lifestyle modifications can not only improve the quality of life, but also decrease risks of long-term complications of other systemic extra-intestinal manifestations including neuropathies, infertility, osteoporosis, and malignancy. In this report, inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease will be investigated through the review of literature, and identification of illustrative cases from pathology files, to elucidate the extraintestinal manifestations focusing on cutaneous manifestations.