ENDOSCOPIC APPEARANCE OF DYSPLASIA AND CANCER IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

Dysplastic alteration of mucosa may occur in fiat or raised mucosal le sions. Over 95% of dysplastic foci occur in hat mucosa. Flat dysplasia is occasionally visible macroscopically as areas of discolouration, v elvety - villous appearance, or peculiar fine nodular thickening. The prevalence of macroscopically visible flat dysplasia is unknown. Raise d dysplasia or DALM (dysplasia associated lesion or mass) occurs in le ss than 5% of patients with dysplasia. DALMs are polypoid structures o f firm consistency, discoloured mucosa and irregular nodularity. DALMs cannot be distinguished endoscopically from early malignancy. The pre sence of DALMs has an ominous significance.