Celiac disease and the surgeon

Background: Celiac disease (CD), a disorder characterized by intestinal inflammation and villus atrophy, has protean manifestations. CD is being diagnosed more frequently but is often undiagnosed when encountered by surgeons. Our aim was to review aspects of CD that are relevant to the surgeon. Methods: A PubMed database search was performed for articles published between January 2000 and December 2021 related to surgical issues in CD. Results: CD is associated with a variety of conditions throughout the gastrointestinal tract. There is an increased risk of a variety of malignancies, including small intestinal tumors. Patients with CD are at an increased risk for operations for common problems such as appendicitis. Patients with undiagnosed CD undergoing operation may develop symptoms leading to diagnosis postoperatively. Conclusion: Surgeons should be aware of CD associated conditions, the risk of malignancy and confounding symptoms. Undiagnosed CD should be suspected if malabsorptive symptoms develop following operation.