Collagenous colitis

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Collagenous colitis
Diagnosis in short
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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

Collagenous colitis is a type of microscopic colitis. It has a characteristic clinical presentation and no apparent endoscopic changes.

General

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:
    • LC males ~= females,[1]
    • CC females:males = 20:1.[1]
  • 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

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]
      • 8 micrometres is the diameter of a RBC.
      • The normal thickness of the subepithelial collagen is 3 micrometres.[4]
      • Transverse colon usually thickest - in one series ~ 47 micrometres on average.[5]
    • 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:

Images

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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. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 URL: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/180664-overview. Accessed on: 31 May 2010.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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. ↑ 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. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bell, D. 4 Mar 2009.
  8. ↑ http://hopkins-gi.nts.jhu.edu/pages/latin/templates/index.cfm?pg=disease1&disease=29&organ=6&lang_id=1
  9. ↑ Yuan, S.; Reyes, V.; Bronner, MP. (Oct 2003). "Pseudomembranous collagenous colitis.". Am J Surg Pathol 27 (10): 1375-9. PMID 14508399.
  10. ↑ 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.