title: Foamy cell aggregation in duodenal diverticula.
abstract: We have investigated 44 cases of duodenal diverticulum to delineate the pathological features. Foamy cell aggregations were observed in 24 (54.5%) of the cases. The foamy cells were located within the submucosa in all 24 cases and were found around the deepest portion of the diverticula in 14. There were no statistically significant differences between the depth of the diverticulum and the presence or degree of foamy cell aggregation. Lymphoid aggregates, focal thickening of the muscularis mucosae, submucosal fibrosis, intimal thickening of submucosal vessels and submucosal haemorrhage were also detected, but statistical analysis showed no significant associations between these pathological findings and the presence of foamy cell aggregates. We conclude that the foamy cell aggregates are a non-specific but frequent pathological finding in duodenal diverticula and which have not been described in previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Laboratory, Japan Self Defense Forces Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsukuma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suda
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000473:pathology*; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology