Pathology of The Colon Flashcards
Which portion of the rectum is extraperitoneal?
The distal 7 cm
What are the three types of cell in the small intestine?
Goblet cells
Columnar absorptive cells
Endocrine cells
What is within the crypts of the small intestine?
Cells: stem, goblet, endocrine and Paneth
Paneth cells are responsible for the production of antimicrobial peptides
What is contained within the crypts of the large intestine?
Crypts-goblet cells, endocrine cells, stem cells turnover 3-8 days
What does the intestinal immune system balance up?
The tolerance for harmless ingested substances and potential microbial invaders
What is the neuromusclular control of the bowel (large and small)
Peristalsis is mediated by intrinsic (myenteric plexus) and extrinsic (autonomic innervation) neural control
What does the myenteric plexus consist of?
Meissener’s plexus: base of the submucosa
Auerbach plexus: between the inner circular and outer longitudinal layers of the muscularis propria
In what conditions might inflammatory bowel disease be seen?
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
Ischaemic colitis
Radiation colitis
Appendicitis
What is idiopathic IBD?
Chronic inflammatory conditions resulting from inappropriate and persistent activation of the mucosal immune system driven by the presence of normal intraluminal flora
(Basically when the gut responds to harmless bacteria over a long period of time)
What are the two main causes of inflammatory bowel disease?
Ulcerative collitis
Crohn’s disease
Where do both:
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
Affect the GI tract
CD can affect any part of the GIT from the mouth to the anus
UC limited to colon
Why is IBD linked genetically?
Possible genetic defects in epithelial barrier function
15% have affected 1st degree relatives
NOD2 gene mutation is seen in association with CD
HLA associations in UC
How can intestinal flora access the mucosal lymphoid tissue?
As a result of a defect in the mucosal barrier, allowing microbes access to mucosal lymphoid tissue triggering immune response
What is the diagnosis of IBD?
Requires clinical history, radiographic examination and pathological correlation
pANCA( perinuclear antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody)
- positive in 75% of UC patients
- BUT only 11% of CD patients.
Where does ulcerative collitis normally invest itself?
Can be localised to the rectum (proctitis)
More commonly spreads proximally
Associated with systemic manifestations
How does inflammations affect the colon?
Pseudopolyps (Pseudopolyps are projecting masses of scar tissue that develop from granulation tissue during the healing phase in repeated cycle of ulceration)
Ulceration
Serosal surface minimal or no inflammation
What are the histological findings in ulceratve collitis?
Mucosa – inflamamtion and atrophy
Crypts: Cryptitis, Crypt abscesses, Architectural dissarray of crypts
Submucosa: Fibrosis and ulceration (Pseudopolyps)
Limited mainly to mucosa and submucosa
NO granulomas
What might happen as a result of flat epithelial atypia in UC?
Atypia: structural abnormality in a cell
Adenomatous change and consequent invasive cancer
What is the risk of developing cancer if you have pancolitis?
20-30 x higher risk of developing cancer.
What are other complications of UC?
Haemorrhage
Perforation
Toxic dilatation