Small intestine & ampulla
Inflammatory disorders
Ulcerative colitis
Author: Hanni Gulwani, M.B.B.S.
Last author update: 1 August 2012
Last staff update: 9 December 2021
Copyright: 2003-2025, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Ulcerative colitis[TI] small bowel[TIAB]
Cite this page: Gulwani H. Ulcerative colitis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/smallbowelUC.html. Accessed April 1st, 2025.
Definition / general
- Severe UC is associated with contiguous backwash ileitis and appendix involvement
- UC also associated with postcolectomy pouchitis
- Rarely diffuse duodenitis is associated with ulcerative colitis but it does not behave as Crohn's disease (Am J Surg Pathol 2000;24:1407)
- Diffuse chronic duodenitis in ulcerative colitis patients who have colectomy is a strong predictor of pouchitis (Am J Surg Pathol 2010;34:1672)
Backwash ileitis
- Recommended to restrict use of term to active enteritis involving ileum contiguously from cecum that has a similar or greater degree of active inflammation; mild cases predominantly involves the superficial mucosa in a contiguous pattern
- Focal isolated ileal erosions, mucous gland metaplasia or patchy edema with mild active inflammation are features of Crohn's disease (Am J Clin Pathol 2006;126:365)
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Mild backwash ileitis in moderately active cecal chronic ulcerative colitis resection specimen; mucosa
of distal ileum is edematous and villi are slightly wider and flatter than normal; most of the active colitis
stops abruptly at transition point between the two mucosae; the two most distal villi have the greatest
degree of injury, including blunting, edema and neutrophils in the lamina propria and surface epithelium
Moderate backwash ileitis
Severe backwash ileitis
Terminal ileum inflammation: (A) grade
1, cryptitis; (B) grade 2, scattered
crypt abscesses; (C) grade 3, numerous
crypt abscesses; (D) grade 4, ulcer
