Constipation and Megacolon

Question 1

What is pathology is shown here?
• Key features?

Answer 1

Ulcerative Colitis
• Crypts are Destroyed with Neutrophils present

**Remember NEUTROPHILS IN THE GI TRACT DOES NOT MEAN ITS ACUTE - its just called “Activity”**

Question 2

What pathology is shown here?
• Key features?

Answer 2

Fibrous tissue is overlying the intestinal epithelium => This is the C. diff. Pseudomembrane

Question 3

What did this person probably die of?

Answer 3

Toxic Megacolon

Question 4

What is seen here?
• How do they cause disease?

Answer 4

Trypanosomes
• These get into the myenteric plexus

T. Cruzi is also associated with dilated cardiomyopathy, arrythmias, and myopathies

Question 5

What is seen here?

Answer 5

Normal Ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus

Question 6

What stain should you use to determine if someone has Hirshsprung’s?
• Does this person have Hirshsprung’s?

Answer 6

Calretinin stains for Neural Cells
• Positive staining for Calretinin indicates that the person DID NOT have Hirshsprung’s

**The person below DOES have it