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VOLUME 50 , ISSUE 3 ( July-September, 2016 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Appendicular Histology and Its Clinical Significance in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Prospective Study from North India

Puneet Chhabra, Surinder S Rana, Deepak K Bhasin, Nadeem Parvez, Deepak Gunjan, Lovneet Dhalaria

Citation Information : Chhabra P, Rana SS, Bhasin DK, Parvez N, Gunjan D, Dhalaria L. Appendicular Histology and Its Clinical Significance in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Prospective Study from North India. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2016; 50 (3):141-147.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10028-1207

Published Online: 01-12-2014

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2016; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background and aims

The appendix may be involved in ulcerative colitis (UC) to variable extent. Clinical significance of appendicular involvement is not clear and it has long been considered an innocent bystander. This study prospectively investigated appendiceal histology and its clinical significance in patients with UC.

Materials and methods

Colonoscopy was performed in 60 patients and biopsies were taken from appendiceal orifice, cecum, and colon. Appendiceal histology was classified as active if there was presence of neutrophils with crypt distortion. Inactive inflammation was defined as positive for crypt distortion and negative for neutrophils. Otherwise the histology was reported as normal or nonspecific changes. The patients were followed for a minimum period of 6 months.

Results

In patients evaluated endoscopically, 63% patients had histological involvement of the appendiceal orifice. Pancolitis was seen more commonly in patients with appendicular orifice inflammation than in patients with normal appendicular histology (44.7 vs 9%, p = 0.001). Most patients with appendiceal orifice inflammation had involvement of the cecum. Skip lesion of the appendix without cecum involvement was seen in 37% of the patients. The patients with appendiceal orifice inflammation had a significantly higher grade of endoscopic colitis compared to patients with normal histology (p = 0.006). Relapse rate was higher in patients with appendiceal orifice inflammation than in patients with normal appendiceal histology (18.4 vs 9%), although the difference was insignificant (p = 0.329).

Conclusion

Appendicular involvement in ulcerative colitis is not uncommon. Its involvement may predict the course, extent, and severity of colitis.

How to cite this article

Parvez N, Rana SS, Nada R, Sharma V, Sharma R, Chhabra P, Gunjan D, Dhalaria L, Gupta R, Bhasin DK. Appendicular Histology and Its Clinical Significance in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Prospective Study from North India. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2016;50(3):141-147.


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