PATHOLOGY DIAGNOSIS OF ISCHEMIC COLITIS

Ischemic colitis is caused by anoxia of the colonic and rectal wall du e to defective regional blood supply. The pathology examination distin guishes acute obstructive and non-obstructive gangrenous ischemic coli tis from chronic segmentary stenosing ischemia on the basis of the gro ss aspect and microscopic criteria and is necessary for differential d iagnosis. Endoscopy, which is contraindicated in acute gangrenous isch emic colitis, provides a biopsy. Acute transitory ischemia can be dist inguished from chronic stenosing colitis.