Description
The specimen consists of caecum and colon and includes the appendix. The mucosa is roughened
and has a granular appearance and is slightly haemorrhagic except for a segment where there is a
markedly haemorrhagic appearance. The bowel wall shows a little thickening. Histologically the
appearances were those of a chronic active ulcerative colitis; in the haemorrhagic area it seemed
these changes were more marked than in other parts of the intestine.
History
This woman presented with severe diarrhoea unresponsive to therapy; a diagnosis of
ulcerative colitis had been made some ten years before. At a subsequent admission the rectal stump
was removed because of continuing inflammation and the formation of a fistula.