An incidental enterocolic lymphocytic phlebitis pattern is seen commonly in the rectal stump of patients with diversion colitis superimposed on inflammatory bowel disease
Abstract
Aims: The present study examined the occurrence of Enterocolic lymphocytic phlebitis (ELP) in the setting of diversion colitis and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as random colectomy specimens.
Methods: The study cohort comprised the following: 26 completion proctectomy specimens for ulcerative colitis with superimposed diversion colitis in the rectal stump, 3 colectomy specimens for Crohn’s disease with diversion colitis, 6 colectomy specimens for adenocarcinoma and/or diverticular disease with diversion colitis, 34 resection specimens with ulcerative colitis only, 35 with Crohn’s disease only, and 100 random colon resection specimens for adenocarcinoma, adenoma, diverticular disease and ischemia.
Results: ELP was present in 18 of the 26 ulcerative colitis cases with diversion colitis, 3/3 Crohn’s disease cases with diversion colitis, 1/6 cases of diverticular disease case with diversion colitis, 6/34 cases of ulcerative colitis without diversion, 2/35 Crohn’s disease cases without diversion colitis, and only 1 of 100 colectomy cases without inflammatory bowel disease or diversion colitis.
Conclusions: ELP occurs most frequently in cases that have been diverted for inflammatory bowel disease. Fewer cases of ELP were noted in cases of inflammatory bowel disease in the absence of diversion colitis. It is postulated that altered bowel flora and immune dysregulation may be pivotal in the causation of this association.
