Granulomatous Lesions of the Colon

ABSTRACT

The study consists of an analysis of 39 cases of all kinds of granulomatous lesions in the colon observed at our X-ray department during 3year period between Jan. 1960. and the end of. 1962. Of these 39, 13 cases were Crohn's disease of the colon and 15 cases were tuberculous colitis. The remaining 11 cases were due to ulcerative colitis 3, amoebic colitis 4, and non-specific pericolitis 4. 17 males and 22 females were seen and, the peak incidence was from 40 to 49 years of age. The diagnosis of each granulomatous lesion was confirmed by tissue examination obtained by exploratory celiotomy or by biopsy. Crohn's disease and tuberculos colitis were more frequently encountered in the large bowel rather than in the ileo-cecal region. Granulomatous lesions in the colon must be differentiated from a number of causes of large bowel pathology e. g. carcinoma or lymphoma. The diseases with which it is more commonly confused are ulcerative colitis, tuberculous colitis, Crohn's disease and amoebic colitis. X-ray features of each of these granulomatous lesions are presented in detail and the points of differential diagnosis are discussed.