Endoscopic finding most consistent with ischemic colitis?

Endoscopic finding most consistent with ischemic colitis?

• A. Inflamed, friable mucosa
• B. Pseudomembranes
• C. Granulomas
• D. Ulcerations with cobblestoning

Answer: (A)

Ischemic colitis causes the mucosa to become fragile and edematous due to reduced blood flow. On endoscopy this shows up as inflamed, friable mucosa that bleeds easily when touched, often in the left colon where blood flow is more vulnerable. Pseudomembranes are yellow plaques seen with C. difficile infection, granulomas point to Crohn disease, and cobblestoning with ulcerations is a Crohn pattern. So the finding of inflamed, friable mucosa best fits ischemic colitis.

Ischemic colitis causes the mucosa to become fragile and edematous due to reduced blood flow. On endoscopy this shows up as inflamed, friable mucosa that bleeds easily when touched, often in the left colon where blood flow is more vulnerable. Pseudomembranes are yellow plaques seen with C. difficile infection, granulomas point to Crohn disease, and cobblestoning with ulcerations is a Crohn pattern. So the finding of inflamed, friable mucosa best fits ischemic colitis.