Collagenous colitis
Collagenous colitis is a type of microscopic colitis. It has a characteristic clinical presentation and no apparent endoscopic changes.
| Collagenous colitis | |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis in short | |
 Collagenous colitis. H&E stain. | |
|
| |
| LM | intraepithelial lymphocytes (>20/100 enterocytes), subepithelial collagen band (>= 10 micrometres thick) |
| LM DDx | lymphocytic colitis, Crohn's disease (very rare) |
| Site | colon - typically more prominent proximally |
|
| |
| Clinical history | predominantly women (women:men=20:1) |
| Symptoms | diarrhea, non-bloody |
| Endoscopy | normal |
| Clin. DDx | irritable bowel syndrome, lymphocytic colitis |
General
- Collagenous colitis may be related to lymphocytic colitis.
- It is hypothesized that these conditions may be the same pathology at different time points.[1]
- May be associated with to collagenous gastritis in adults.[2]
Presentation:
- Chronic diarrhea, non-bloody.[1]
Notes:
- Clinical DDx includes irritable bowel syndrome - which has no or subtle histopathologic changes.
- This pathology also afflicits rectum; however, it is less commonly found there.
- The rectum is afflicted in approximately in 65% of cases.[3]
Epidemiology
- Age: a disease of adults - usually 50s.
- Sex:
- Drugs are associated with LC and CC.
- NSAIDs - posulated association/weak association,
- SSRIs (used primarily for depression) - moderate association, dependent on specific drug.
- Associated with autoimmune disorders - celiac disease, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders and arthritis.[4]
- No increased risk of colorectal carcinoma.[4]
Treatment
- Sometimes just follow-up.
- Steroids - budesonide -- short-term treatment.[4]
Gross
- Endoscopic examination is normal.
- This is why it is called a microscopic colitis.
Microscopic
Features:
- Intraepithelial lymphocytes - important.
- Collagenous material in the lamina propria (pink on H&E) -- key feature.
- Can be demonstrated with a trichrome stain -- collagen = green on trichrome.
- Subepithelial collagen needs to be >= 10 micrometres thick for diagnosis.[4]
- Thickening is usually patchy.[6]
- Thickening "follows the crypts from the surface" - useful for differentiating from tangential sections of the basement membrane.[7]
- Collagen may envelope capillaries - useful to discern from basement membrane.[7]
Notes:
- CC is typically more prominent in the proximal colon - may reflect concentration gradient of offending causitive agents.[4]
- Significant negative findings:[8]
- No PMNs.
- No crypt distortion.
- Thickened collagen band uncommon in rectum.[6]
- Described in association of pseudomembranes.[9]
DDx:
- Lymphocytic colitis.
- Crohn's disease - very rare, may be a perfect mimic.[10]
Images
CC - intermed mag. (WC/Nephron)
CC - high mag. (WC/Nephron)
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TRANSVERSE COLON, BIOPSY: - COLLAGENOUS COLITIS.
Micro
The sections show colonic mucosa with abundant intraepithelial lymphocytes (>20 lymphocytes/100 surface epithelial cells). A prominent collagen band is apparent below the epithelium (>10 micrometres thick). The glandular architecture is within normal limits.
There are no granulomas. No neutrophilic cryptitis is apparent. The epithelium matures appropriately to the surface.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 URL: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/180664-overview. Accessed on: 31 May 2010.
- ↑ Brain, O.; Rajaguru, C.; Warren, B.; Booth, J.; Travis, S. (Dec 2009). "Collagenous gastritis: reports and systematic review.". Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 21 (12): 1419-24. doi:10.1097/MEG.0b013e32832770fa. PMID 19730387.
- ↑ Agnarsdottir M, Gunnlaugsson O, Orvar KB, et al. (May 2002). "Collagenous and lymphocytic colitis in Iceland". Dig. Dis. Sci. 47 (5): 1122–8. PMID 12018911.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Tysk C, Bohr J, Nyhlin N, Wickbom A, Eriksson S (December 2008). "Diagnosis and management of microscopic colitis". World J. Gastroenterol. 14 (48): 7280-8. PMID 19109861. http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/14/7280.asp.
- ↑ Offner, FA.; Jao, RV.; Lewin, KJ.; Havelec, L.; Weinstein, WM. (Apr 1999). "Collagenous colitis: a study of the distribution of morphological abnormalities and their histological detection.". Hum Pathol 30 (4): 451-7. PMID 10208468.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tanaka, M.; Mazzoleni, G.; Riddell, RH. (Jan 1992). "Distribution of collagenous colitis: utility of flexible sigmoidoscopy.". Gut 33 (1): 65-70. PMID 1740280.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bell, D. 4 Mar 2009.
- ↑ http://hopkins-gi.nts.jhu.edu/pages/latin/templates/index.cfm?pg=disease1&disease=29&organ=6&lang_id=1
- ↑ Yuan, S.; Reyes, V.; Bronner, MP. (Oct 2003). "Pseudomembranous collagenous colitis.". Am J Surg Pathol 27 (10): 1375-9. PMID 14508399.
- ↑ Goldstein, NS.; Gyorfi, T. (Sep 1999). "Focal lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis: patterns of Crohn's colitis?". Am J Surg Pathol 23 (9): 1075-81. PMID 10478667.