Chemical Iatrogenic Colitis
Differential Diagnosis
- E coli O157:H7 colitis may be histologically indistinguishable from chemical / iatrogenic colitis
- Clinical correlation is necessary
- Acute ischemic colitis may be histologically indistinguishable from chemical / iatrogenic colitis
- Clinical correlation is necessary
| Chemical / Iatrogenic Colitis |
Antibiotic-associated Pseudomembranous Colitis |
| Diffuse necrosis and sloughing of superficial mucosa |
Frequently patchy involvement of 2-10 crypts with normal surrounding crypts |
| Mucosal microthrombi and hemorrhage |
Not associated with microthrombi or hemorrhage |
| History of endoscopy or introduction of foreign substance |
History of antibiotic therapy |
Both may form a pseudomembrane
