Cystica profunda is a rare disease of the gut lining. It is characterized by formation of
mucin cysts in the muscle layers of the gut lining, and it can occur anywhere along the
gastrointestinal tract
The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The GI tract contains all the major organ (biology), organs of the digestive syste ...
.
When the condition occurs in the stomach, it may be termed gastritis cystica profunda, and in the small intestine, enteritis cystica profunda.
When it occurs in the
colon, it is termed
colitis cystica profunda. Colitis cystica profunda is benign, but it may mimic a tumor.
When it occurs in the rectum it may be termed colitis cystica profunda, or termed proctitis cystica profunda. Some consider this synonymous, or closely related to
solitary rectal ulcer syndrome, a consequence of
internal rectal intussusception.
It can have benign columnar epithelium and mucosal cysts deep to the muscularis mucosa on microscopy. Hence it can be mistaken for an invasive adenocarcinoma.
See also
*
Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome
References
Gastroenterology
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