title: Minute lesions of the rectum and sigmoid colon in patients with Crohn's disease.
abstract: Sigmoidoscopy with a spray of 0.1% indigocarmine was performed on 20 patients with Crohn's disease whose main lesions were located proximal to the transverse colon and on 10 age-matched healthy volunteers. Minute lesions such as apthoid lesions, areas of erythema, and small ulcers were found in 90% of patients with Crohn's disease and in 0% of healthy volunteers (p less than 0.001). Among the minute lesions, aphthoid lesions were found in the highest incidence (85%). It was difficult to determine the presence of aphthoid lesions without the spray of indigocarmine, which facilitated detection. Histologically, granulomas were found in 15% of patients with Crohn's disease. Aphthoid lesions were not associated with superficial erosions and lymphoid follicles. The presence of aphthoid lesions in the rectum and sigmoid colon would be a strong indication of the presence of Crohn's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwashita
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nomiyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitahara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000473:pathology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology*; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy