Colon
Other nonneoplastic
Infarct
Author: Raul S. Gonzalez, M.D.
Last author update: 3 March 2021
Last staff update: 5 March 2021
Copyright: 2003-2025, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Colonic infarct[TIAB]
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Essential features | Clinical features | Case reports | Treatment | Gross description | Gross images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Videos | Sample pathology report | Board review style question #1 | Board review style answer #1Cite this page: Gonzalez RS. Infarct. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/coloninfarct.html. Accessed March 28th, 2025.
Definition / general
- Death of colonic tissue due to any marked loss of blood supply to colon, including vascular insufficiency and trauma
- See also ischemic colitis
Essential features
- Necrosis of colon due to loss of blood supply
- Cause may not be evident histologically
- Surgical resection necessary
Clinical features
- Depends on cause but abdominal pain and hematochezia are common
Case reports
- 83 year old woman with intestinal infarct caused by giant cell arteritis (Medicina (B Aires) 1999;59:86)
- Patients with association of rupture abdominal aneurysm and intestinal infarct (Minerva Chir 1996;51:597)
Treatment
- Surgical resection of necrotic colon
Gross description
- Intestine is dusky and necrotic
Gross images
Images hosted on other servers:
Necrotic segments of colon
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Typically transmural colonic necrosis, with nonviable mucosa and edema, hemorrhage and congestion of wall
Microscopic (histologic) images
Contributed by Raul S. Gonzalez, M.D.
Colon infarct
Videos
Histopathology colon - hemorrhagic infarct
Sample pathology report
- Descending colon, resection:
- Segment of colon with diffuse transmural necrosis and hemorrhage, extending to both resection margins
Board review style question #1
Which of the following is true about colonic infarction?
- Cause can always be observed on histologic examination
- Colon paradoxically appears normal grossly
- Only the mucosa is affected
- Surgery is necessary for treatment
Board review style answer #1
