STUDIES IN THE CELLULAR EXUDATES OF BOWEL DISCHARGES. III. THE DIAGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF CELLULAR EXUDATE STUDIES IN CHRONIC BOWEL DISORDERS

Abstract

During the past 4 yrs., studies in the cellular exudates of bowel discharges have established that the presence of cellular exudates in the bowel discharge indicates pathological change in the bowel wall, while the absence of cellular exudate points to bowel conditions not associated with anatomical changes in the bowel wall. There are 3 well-defined types of cell which may be readily identified. These include epithelial cells of various sizes and shapes which are readily demonstrated in methylene blue wet cover-slip preparations; polymorphonuclear leucocytes which in wet methylene blue preps. may or may not have open ringed nuclei or solid nuclei frequently mistaken for cysts of amebae; and small round cells which may be of the lymphocytic series. These various types of cells have been found in the following conditions; namely, chronic ulcerative colitis with hypertrophic polyploid changes; acute amebiasis complicated by perforation; bacillary dysentery; carcinoma of the sigmoid; lymphogranuloma venerum; carcinoma of the splenic flexure of the colon; pathological changes of the terminal ileum.