Granulomatous ileocolitis. Report of 61 cases

Abstract

Evidence is available to believe that granulomatous colitis is a disease entity separate and distinct from idiopathic ulcerative colitis although the clinical-behavior of each may be similar. In gross and microscopic studies of the surgical specimens of 61 patients undergoing colectomy, comparison was made with ulcerative colitis. In the granulomatous variety, it tends to follow a chronic course and rarely are acute phases resembling a fulminating type encountered. Diarrhea and bleeding are less pronounced while stricture formation and intra-abdominal fistulas are more common. A noticeable feature is the absence of acute hemorrhage and toxic megacolon. The incidence of inflammatory and lesions is higher, cancer is far less common, the recurrence rate is greater, the mortality from colectomy is more marked, and the percentage of rehabilitation considerably lessened.