ABSTRACT
This study describes, in 6 patients with a flat small intestinal mucosa and splenic atrophy, a particular lesion of the mesenteric lymph nodes termed "cavitation." In 4 women and 2 men with abdominal mass, intestinal obstruction, or suspected celiac disease-associated lymphoma, unusual pseudocystic lymph node lesions were found in the jejunal or jejunoileal mesentery. These lesions consisted histologically of a large central cavity occupied by hyaline-type material and surrounded by fibrous tissue and remnants of lymph node structures. There was no histologic evidence of malignant lymphoma or mesenteric panniculitis. Diffuse subtotal villous atrophy involving at least the jejunum was found in each case, together with unequivocal biological and morphological evidence of splenic atrophy, severe malabsorption, and a history of chronic or childhood diarrhea. HLA B8 or DR3, or both, was present in 4 of 4 cases; dermatitis herpetiformis was present in 1 case. An unequivocal mucosal response to a gluten-free diet was observed in 2 cases. Four patients died of cachexia or hyposplenism-related infections. We conclude that cavitation of mesenteric lymph nodes is an original feature which may be associated with splenic atrophy and a flat small intestinal mucosa; some of these patients may have celiac disease. Pathogenesis is unknown.
Subject(s)
Intestinal Mucosa/pathology , Lymph Nodes/pathology , Mesentery/pathology , Spleen/pathology , Adult , Atrophy , Celiac Disease/diet therapy , Celiac Disease/etiology , Celiac Disease/pathology , Female , Glutens/administration & dosage , Humans , Jejunum/pathology , Lymph Nodes/diagnostic imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
A case-control study of the familial prevalence (first-degree relatives) of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) was performed from October 1979 through March 1983 in: (a) 170 consecutive patients with histologically proved rectal (n = 64) or colonic (n = 106) adenocarcinoma; cases of familial polyposis coli and cancer family syndrome were systematically excluded from the study; (b) 170 control subjects, who were free of CRC or colorectal adenoma(s) and matched to patients according to sex and age; (c) 170 consecutive patients with common rectal or colonic adenoma(s), and no evidence of polyposis coli; (d) 100 patients with cancer of various organs, excluding CRC and primary tumours known to be epidemiologically related to CRC. Results of family studies were expressed as "proved" (when the pathological report was received) or "probable" CRC. Eighteen (10.6 p. 100) of the 170 patients with CRC had at least one first-degree relative with past or present proved CRC, and 14 (8.2 p. 100) with probable CRC; the corresponding figures were 3 (1.7 p. 100) proved and 3 (1.7 p. 100) probable CRC in the control group, 14 (8.2 p. 100) proved and 11 (6.5 p. 100) probable CRC in the "adenoma" group and 1 (1 p. 100) and 3 (3 p. 100) in the non-colonic carcinoma group. The relative risk of CRC in close relatives was 6.3 and 4.7 in the CRC and adenoma groups respectively. For the variables studied no significant differences were found between males and females.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
