Chronic Colitis in Biopsy Samples: Is It Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Something Else?

Eun-Young Karen Choi; Henry D Appelman

doi:10.1016/j.path.2017.07.005

Chronic Colitis in Biopsy Samples: Is It Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Something Else?

Surg Pathol Clin. 2017 Dec;10(4):841-861. doi: 10.1016/j.path.2017.07.005. Epub 2017 Sep 28.

Authors

Eun-Young Karen Choi¹, Henry D Appelman²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, 5231B Medical Science I, 1301 Catherine Street, SPC 5602, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5602, USA. Electronic address: ekchoi@med.umich.edu.
² Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, 5220 Medical Science I, 1301 Catherine Street, SPC 5602, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5602, USA.

PMID: 29103536
DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2017.07.005

Abstract

Chronic colitis, regardless of type, is defined histologically by chronic inflammation, mainly plasmacytosis, in the lamina propria. Specific diagnosis of chronic colitides in biopsies can be challenging for practicing pathologists. This article focuses on discussing specific histologic features in biopsies of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including ulcerative colitis, Crohn colitis, and colitis of indeterminate type. It also offers suggestions as to how to separate the IBDs from other chronic colitides, such as lymphocytic colitis, collagenous colitis, diverticular disease-associated colitis, diversion colitis, and chronic colitides that are due to drugs. Normal histology in colon biopsies is also briefly discussed.

Keywords: Chronic colitis in biopsies; Crohn colitis; Ulcerative colitis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Chronic Disease
Colitis / diagnosis
Colitis / pathology*
Colitis, Ulcerative / diagnosis
Colitis, Ulcerative / pathology
Colon / pathology
Crohn Disease / diagnosis
Crohn Disease / pathology
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / diagnosis
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / pathology*