Findings

There are numerous, yellow plaques of "pseudomembranes" composed of inflammatory debris adherent to the colonic mucosa.

Impression

Colon, pseudomembranous

Clinical Pathologic Correlation
Clostridium difficile is a member of the normal intestinal flora, but cytotoxin-producing strains may emerge after heavy antibiotic use. Moreover, tissue injury sufficient to cause diarrhea and other clinical manifestations occurs infrequently, and colitis even less often.

Pathology Pointer

The "pseudomembrane" consists of cellular debris, inflammatory exudate and mucus adherent to the mucosal surface. Although pseudomembranes are a characteristic of C. difficile colitis, they are also seen in early ischemia or in some colitis due to enterotoxin producing organisms, such as E. coli.

Preparation

Fresh

View

Gross photograph

Specimen

Colon

Image Credit

Katsumi M. Miyai, M.D., Ph.D
Department of Pathology
School of Medicine
University of California, San Diego