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 life threatening. We report on a patient who developed peritonitis, requiring emergency laparotomy, total colectomy, and ileostomy because of colon necrosis. The specimen displayed multiple ulcerations and erosions. Histology showed a predominantly lymphocytic infiltrate of small-sized and middle-sized veins in the submucosa and subserosa, associated with granulomas and foci of vein wall necrosis. Arteries were spared. No local recurrence or systemic vasculitis developed during a follow-up period of two years. Isolated granulomatous phlebitis seems to be self-limited, and its cause is unknown. Surgical resection of the diseased intestine is usually curative.
Martinet
O
O
Department of Surgery and lnstitute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Reis
E D
ED
Joseph
J M
JM
Saraga
E
E
Gillet
T M
TM
D003082:Colectomy; D017091:Colitis, Ischemic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003106:Colon / Q000098:blood supply*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy; D007813:Laparotomy; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery