title: Varied Clinical Manifestations of Amebic Colitis.
abstract: Invasive amebiasis is common worldwide, but infrequently observed in the United States. It is associated with considerable morbidity in patients residing in or traveling to endemic areas. We review the clinical and endoscopic manifestations of amebic colitis to alert physicians to the varied clinical manifestations of this potentially life-threatening disease. Copyright ©Most patients present with watery or bloody diarrhea. Less common presentations of amebic colitis include abdominal pain, overt gastrointestinal bleeding, exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease, or the incidental association with colon cancer. Amebic liver abscesses are the most frequent complication. Rectosigmoid involvement may be found on colonoscopy; however, most case series have reported that the cecum is the most commonly involved site, followed by the ascending colon. Endoscopic evaluation should be used to assist in the diagnosis, with attention to the observation of colonic inflammation, ulceration, and amebic trophozoites on histopathological examination.
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Gastroenterology and Infectious Disease, and the Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso.
authors.forename: Chad J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Gastroenterology and Infectious Disease, and the Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso.
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Gastroenterology and Infectious Disease, and the Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso.
authors.forename: Darius A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Boman
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Gastroenterology and Infectious Disease, and the Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso.
authors.forename: Marc J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology; D004404:Dysentery, Amebic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology