Open AccessMyenteric plexitis: A frequent feature in patients undergoing surgery for colonic diverticular disease
Author(s) -
Bassotti Gabrio,
Villanacci Vincenzo,
Sidoni Angelo,
Nascimbeni Riccardo,
Dore Maria P,
Binda Gian A,
Bandelloni Roberto,
Salemme Marianna,
Del Sordo Rachele,
Cadei Moris,
Manca Alessandra,
Bernardini Nunzia,
Maurer Christoph A,
Cathomas Gieri
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
ueg journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 2050-6414
pISSN - 2050-6406
DOI - 10.1177/2050640614563822
Subject(s) - medicine , diverticular disease , feature (linguistics) , gastroenterology , disease , diverticulitis , general surgery , pathology , philosophy , linguistics
Background Diverticular disease of the colon is frequent in clinical practice, and a large number of patients each year undergo surgical procedures worldwide for their symptoms. Thus, there is a need for better knowledge of the basic pathophysiologic mechanisms of this disease entity. Objectives Because patients with colonic diverticular disease have been shown to display abnormalities of the enteric nervous system, we assessed the frequency of myenteric plexitis (i.e. the infiltration of myenteric ganglions by inflammatory cells) in patients undergoing surgery for this condition. Methods We analyzed archival resection samples from the proximal resection margins of 165 patients undergoing left hemicolectomy (60 emergency and 105 elective surgeries) for colonic diverticulitis, by histology and immunochemistry. Results Overall, plexitis was present in almost 40% of patients. It was subdivided into an eosinophilic (48%) and a lymphocytic (52%) subtype. Plexitis was more frequent in younger patients; and it was more frequent in those undergoing emergency surgery (50%), compared to elective (28%) surgery ( p = 0.007). All the severe cases of plexitis displayed the lymphocytic subtype. Conclusions In conclusion, myenteric plexitis is frequent in patients with colonic diverticular disease needing surgery, and it might be implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease.