DILATATION OF THE COLON, A SERIOUS COMPLICATION OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Authors: B I KORELITZ, H D JANOWITZ
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1960)

Article1 July 1960DILATATION OF THE COLON, A SERIOUS COMPLICATION OF ULCERATIVE COLITISB. I. KORELITZ, H. D. JANOWITZB. I. KORELITZSearch for more papers by this author, H. D. JANOWITZSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-53-1-153 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptIn the natural course of ulcerative colitis, serious colonic complications may be expected in from 5 to 10% of the cases.1 These have consisted of free perforation, pericolonic abscess, peritonitis, massive hemorrhage and carcinoma. Not previously included in this group is a rapidly developing and striking dilatation of the colon associated with extreme toxicity. The abdomen becomes distended and usually silent. Though potentially reversible, this ominous sign markedly increases the likelihood that a perforation has occurred.Single examples of this entity were first described by Marshak et al.2as "megacolon, a complication of ulcerative colitis," and by Madison and Bargen3...Bibliography1. BanksKorelitzZetzel BMBIL: The course of nonspecific ulcerative colitis: review of twenty years' experience and late results, Gastroenterology 32: 983, 1957. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. MarshakLesterFriedman RHLJAI: Megacolon, a complication of ulcerative colitis, Gastroenterology 16: 768, 1950. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. MadisonBargen MSJA: Fulminating chronic ulcerative colitis with unusual segmental dilatation of the colon, Proc. Staff Meet., Mayo Clin. 26: 21, 1951. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. LumbProtheroeRamsay GRHGS: Ulcerative colitis with dilatation of the colon, Brit. J. Surg. 43: 182, 1955. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. BockusRothBuchmanKalserStaubFinkelsteinValdes-Dapena HLJLEMWRAA: Life history of non-specific ulcerative colitis, Gastroenterologia 86: 549, 1956. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. CohnCopitTumen EMPHJ: Ulcerative colitis with hypopotassemia, Gastroenterology 30: 950, 1956. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: New York, N. Y.*Received for publication February 19, 1960.From the Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, N. Y.†Rosenstock Foundation Fellow.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Burton I. Korelitz, M.D., 1036 Park Avenue, New York 28, N. Y. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byCT features of toxic megacolon: A systematic reviewInflammatory bowel disease in the older patientUse and Abuse of CatharticsLokale KomplikationenToxic MegacolonThe Place of Steroids in the Therapy of Toxic MegacolonToxic Megacolon in Ulcerative ColitisAdrenal glucocorticoids after twenty yearsAsymptomatic megacolon persisting six years after toxic dilatation of the colonColitis ulcerosaCATHARTIC COLONTreatment of Ulcerative ColitisCorticosteroid Therapy in Rheumatoid ArthritisAcute Fulminating Ulcerative ColitisThe Influence of Corticotrophin and Adrenal Steroids on the Course of Ulcerative Colitis: A Comparison with the Presteroid EraUlcerative Colitis: A Report of Progress, Based upon the Recent LiteratureDilatation of the colon (toxic megacolon) in acute fulminating ulcerative colitisUlcerative ColitisSurgical Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in Children 1 July 1960Volume 53, Issue 1Page: 153-163KeywordsAdrenocorticotropic hormoneColitisColonHospital medicinePeritonitisSteroid hormonesSteroidsToxicityUlcerative colitisUlcers ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 July 1960 PDF downloadLoading ...