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Pathology of the Gastrointestinal Tract pp 499–502Cite as

Microscopic Colitis

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Pathology ((EP))

Synonyms

Collagenous colitis; Lymphocytic colitis

Definition

Microscopic colitis is an umbrella term for two major entities known as lymphocytic (LC) and collagenous colitis (CC). The term microscopic colitis (MC) describes a clinical pathological entity characterized by three elements: (a) a clinical history of chronic watery (non-bloody) diarrhea, (b) a normal or almost normal endoscopic appearance of the colon, and (c) a distinct histologic pattern. The latter can be either that of collagenous colitis (CC) or that of lymphocytic colitis. Therefore, the term microscopic colitis could be applied only from the endoscopic point of view in the presence of normal or almost normal endoscopic examination. Both LC and CC are clinically characterized by chronic watery diarrhea, while other conditions with normal endoscopy and abnormal histology may have other clinical characteristics. The pathogenesis is still not completely understood and probably multifactorial. It is suggested to represent...

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References and Further Reading

  • Fraser, A. G., Warren, B. F., Chandrapala, R., et al. (2002). Microscopic colitis: A clinical and pathological review. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 37, 1241–1245.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kingham, J. G. C., Levison, D. A., Ball, J. A., et al. (1982). Microscopic colitis: A cause of chronic watery diarrhoea. British Medical Journal, 285, 1601–1604.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Langner C, Aust D, Ensari A, Villanacci V, Becheanu G, Miehlke S, Geboes K, Münch A; Working Group of Digestive Diseases of the European Society of Pathology (ESP) and the European Microscopic Colitis Group (EMCG) (2015) Histology of microscopic colitis-review with a practical approach for pathologists. Histopathology, 66(5), 613–626.

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  • Sandmeier, D., & Bouzourene, H. (2004). Microscopic colitis with giant cells: A rare new histopathologic subtype? International Journal of Surgical Pathology, 12, 45–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saurine, T. J., Brewer, J. M., & Eckstein, R. P. (2004). Microscopic colitis with granulomatous inflammation. Histopathology, 45, 82–86.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tysk, C., Bohr, J., Nyhlin, N., Wickbom, A., & Eriksson, S. (2008). Diagnosis and management of microscopic colitis. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 14(48), 7280–7288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Ankara University Medical School, 06100, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey

    Arzu Ensari

Authors
  1. Arzu Ensari
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arzu Ensari .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine of Porto University, Centro Hospitalar São João and Ipatimup/i3S, Porto, Portugal

    Fátima Carneiro

  2. Serviço de Anatomia Patológica, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa de Francisco Gentil, Lisbon, Portugal

    Paula Chaves

  3. Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal

    Paula Chaves

  4. Department of Pathology, Ankara University Medical School, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey

    Arzu Ensari

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Ensari, A. (2017). Microscopic Colitis. In: Carneiro, F., Chaves, P., Ensari, A. (eds) Pathology of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1443

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1443

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40559-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40560-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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