title: Spontaneous peritonitis from perforation of the colon in collagenous colitis.
abstract: A 37-year-old woman presented with an acute abdomen following the onset of watery diarrhea. Spontaneous peritonitis was detected, along with evidence of a focal sigmoid colon perforation. Subsequent postoperative colonoscopic studies revealed collagenous colitis with a focal, deep, nongranulomatous ulcer in the sigmoid colon. Although the literature suggests that collagenous colitis tends to have a relatively 'benign' clinical course characterized by chronic or episodic watery diarrhea. Potentially serious and life- threatening complications may occur in this microscopic form of inflammatory bowel disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Gastroenterology), University of British Columbia Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mahoney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003092:Colitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000150:complications*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016387:Women's Health