Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, idiopathic inflammatory disease that affects mainly young adults. The histologic examination of endoscopic biopsies or resection specimens plays an important part in the diagnosis and follow up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, including UC. In this chapter, we discuss on main histological features that can be used when analyzing endoscopic biopsies, as well as features that can be evaluated in surgical samples of patients with UC. The differential diagnosis toward Crohn’s disease and other mimickers is emphasized. In addition, the main complications associated with treatment and long-standing diseases, such as infection colitis and dysplasia are presented.
Part of the book: Ulcerative Colitis