INTRODUCTION In this study, we investigated radiological changes in the sigmoid colon in chagasic patients by comparing their colon lengths and caliber with those of non-chagasic living in the same region and non-chagasic living at high altitudes. METHODS A total of 317 individuals were evaluated using clinical, serological and radiological methods and divided into three groups: 1) one hundre...

Acute ulcerative colitis is a potentiality life-threatening disorder once associated with a very high mortality. However, multidisciplinary strategies have improved dramatically to the point where today, mortality is lower than 3% [1, 2]. The Truelove and Witts classification identified clinical criteria for categorising as mild, moderate or severe the severity of ulcerative colitis [3]. The te...

Intestinal volvulus in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is rare. A 83-year-old woman diagnosed with ulcerative colitis five years ago was referred to our hospital due to abdominal distension. The patient had been diagnosed with pancolitis and dolichocolon and was started on mesalazine 1.5 g/day treatment resulting in long-term remission. Physical examination showed abdominal distention ...

We present a rare case of toxic megacolon accompanied by necrosis of the colon due to chronic dilation caused by stenosis of the sigmoid colon as a complication of diverticulitis. The patient presented at the emergency department with diffuse abdominal pain, fever (38.8°C) and tachycardia (120 beats/min). Physical examination revealed distension and tenderness on deep palpation on the left lowe...

A case of megacolon is described in which there was an unusual and focal hyperplasia of enterochromaffin cells in the mucosa. These formed discrete spherical acini in the lamina propria. These acini were not neoplastic and their significance is discussed.

Case report An overview of our 2011-2013 experience retrieved several common mistakes of CDI management (e.g. almost 51% of CDI patients received combined therapy with metronidazole and vancomycin, less than 25% colectomies for cases with toxic megacolon, several secondary cases in patients hospitalized in the same room with a non-diagnosed CDI patient). We have chosen to present eight “pearls”...