Isolated granulomatous phlebitis: Rare cause of ischemic necrosis of the colon - Report of a case

Isolated phlebitis of the gastrointestinal tract is rare and potentially li fe threatening. We report on a patient who developed peritonitis, requiring emergency laparotomy, total colectomy, and ileostomy because of colon necr osis. The specimen displayed multiple ulcerations and erosions. Histology s howed a predominantly lymphocytic infiltrate of small-sized and middle-size d veins in the submucosa and subserosa, associated with granulomas and foci of vein wall necrosis. Arteries were spared. No local recurrence or system ic vasculitis developed during a follow-up period of two years. Isolated gr anulomatous phlebitis seems to be self-limited, and its cause is unknown. S urgical resection of the diseased intestine is usually curative.