Intest Res.  2013 Apr;11(2):100-106. 10.5217/ir.2013.11.2.100.

The Usefulness of a Colonoscopy with Biopsy in the Early and Accurate Diagnosis of Ischemic Colitis

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea. smyoon@chungbuk.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Pathology, Aerospace Medical Center, Republic of Korea Air Force, Cheongwon, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pathology, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Ischemic colitis has a clinical spectrum ranging from mild reversible colitis to an acute fulminant course. Early and accurate diagnosis is therefore mandatory for a good clinical outcome. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a colonoscopy and histological examination with biopsy in the early and accurate diagnosis of ischemic colitis.
METHODS
We investigated the clinical characteristics and endoscopic findings with the histopathology of 89 cases of ischemic colitis from October 2002 to August 2012 in a tertiary-care hospital. All patients underwent a colonoscopy with biopsy within a few days of the onset of symptoms, and the histological features from the biopsy specimens were reviewed. In addition, the occurrence of complications by colonoscopy with biopsy was evaluated.
RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 65.8+/-12.6 years (male:female, 1:2.2). The major combined disorders were hypertension (51.7%), diabetes (31.5%), and arrhythmia (19.1%). The clinical features usually presented with hematochezia (83.1%), abdominal pain (77.5%), and diarrhea (60.7%). The involved patterns were the left colon (56.2%), right colon (39.3%), and pancolon (4.5%). Based on the main histological features of ischemic colitis, including glandular atrophy (67.4%), hemorrhage (61.8%), capillary thrombi (42.7%), and coagulative necrosis of mucosa (29.2%), 67 of the 89 cases (75.3%) could be confirmed with ischemic colitis. There were no serious complications such as bowel perforation or major bleeding following the colonoscopy with biopsy.
CONCLUSIONS
A colonoscopy with biopsy is beneficial and safe for the early and precise diagnosis of ischemic colitis.

Keyword

Ischemic colitis; Colonoscopy; Biopsy; Diagnosis

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Atrophy
Biopsy
Capillaries
Colitis
Colitis, Ischemic
Colon
Colonoscopy
Diarrhea
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hypertension
Mucous Membrane
Necrosis
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