Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis
Definition
- Marked infiltration of stomach and/or small intestine by eosinophils
Diagnostic Criteria
- Infiltrate predominantly composed of eosinophils
- Published criteria vary from 10-50/HPF, focally to diffusely
- Peripheral eosinophilia in 40-50% of cases, but usually <1500/ml
- Variable distribution within the bowel wall with any of the following patterns
- Predominantly mucosal
- Infiltrates epithelium and may form crypt abscesses
- Predominantly mural or transmural, involving muscularis propria
- Predominantly serosal
- Cases lacking mucosal involvement may not be apparent on endoscopic biopsy
- Variable distribution in GI tract
- Gastric antrum involved in 90% of cases
- Small intestine involved in 75%
- In combination with the stomach or small intestine, the esophagus and/or colorectum may also be involved
- Isolated involvement of esophagus or colorectum is considered separately
- If isolated, both tend to remain localized and are usually due to food allergy
Department of Pathology
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford CA 94305-5342
Original posting : November 11, 2009
