Biomaterial Database

Scanning electron microscopy of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis of the colon. 1980

H Myllärniemi, and J Nickels

12 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 9 with ulcerative colitis (UC) affecting the colon were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The macroscopically unaffected mucosa was distorted in both diseases by irregularities in the normal polygonal units. The individual absorptive cells were disorganized, having lost their pentagonal-hexagonal cell borders. In 7 cases of CD an increase of goblet cells was seen. In 4 cases of UC their number was decreased. One case of UC showed an increased number of goblet cells, the case possibly belonging to the sub-category of indeterminate colitis. The microvilli were normal in CD but affected in many cells from cases of UC. Re-epithelization was followed during conservative treatment in 2 UC patients. It is suggested that with simplified SEM techniques the instrument can be a useful aid in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory colonic diseases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007413	Intestinal Mucosa	Lining of the INTESTINES, consisting of an inner EPITHELIUM, a middle LAMINA PROPRIA, and an outer MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE. In the SMALL INTESTINE, the mucosa is characterized by a series of folds and abundance of absorptive cells (ENTEROCYTES) with MICROVILLI.	Intestinal Epithelium,Intestinal Glands,Epithelium, Intestinal,Gland, Intestinal,Glands, Intestinal,Intestinal Gland,Mucosa, Intestinal
D008297	Male		Males
D008855	Microscopy, Electron, Scanning	Microscopy in which the object is examined directly by an electron beam scanning the specimen point-by-point. The image is constructed by detecting the products of specimen interactions that are projected above the plane of the sample, such as backscattered electrons. Although SCANNING TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY also scans the specimen point by point with the electron beam, the image is constructed by detecting the electrons, or their interaction products that are transmitted through the sample plane, so that is a form of TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY.	Scanning Electron Microscopy,Electron Scanning Microscopy,Electron Microscopies, Scanning,Electron Microscopy, Scanning,Electron Scanning Microscopies,Microscopies, Electron Scanning,Microscopies, Scanning Electron,Microscopy, Electron Scanning,Microscopy, Scanning Electron,Scanning Electron Microscopies,Scanning Microscopies, Electron,Scanning Microscopy, Electron
D008871	Microvilli	Minute projections of cell membranes which greatly increase the surface area of the cell.	Brush Border,Striated Border,Border, Brush,Border, Striated,Borders, Brush,Borders, Striated,Brush Borders,Microvillus,Striated Borders
D003092	Colitis	Inflammation of the COLON section of the large intestine (INTESTINE, LARGE), usually with symptoms such as DIARRHEA (often with blood and mucus), ABDOMINAL PAIN, and FEVER.	Colitides
D003093	Colitis, Ulcerative	Inflammation of the COLON that is predominantly confined to the MUCOSA. Its major symptoms include DIARRHEA, rectal BLEEDING, the passage of MUCUS, and ABDOMINAL PAIN.	Colitis Gravis,Idiopathic Proctocolitis,Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis Type,Ulcerative Colitis
D003424	Crohn Disease	A chronic transmural inflammation that may involve any part of the DIGESTIVE TRACT from MOUTH to ANUS, mostly found in the ILEUM, the CECUM, and the COLON. In Crohn disease, the inflammation, extending through the intestinal wall from the MUCOSA to the serosa, is characteristically asymmetric and segmental. Epithelioid GRANULOMAS may be seen in some patients.	Colitis, Granulomatous,Enteritis, Granulomatous,Enteritis, Regional,Ileitis, Regional,Ileitis, Terminal,Ileocolitis,Crohn's Disease,Crohn's Enteritis,Inflammatory Bowel Disease 1,Regional Enteritis,Crohns Disease,Granulomatous Colitis,Granulomatous Enteritis,Regional Ileitides,Regional Ileitis,Terminal Ileitis
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man