Amyloidosis of the colon presenting as ischemic colitis: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Review of the English literature revealed 21 cases describing abnormalities on barium enema secondary to amyloidosis of the colon. These cases were categorized as to frequency of specific barium enema findings and distribution within the colon. The most common radiologic findings were luminal narrowing (11 of 21), loss of haustrations (10 of 21), thickened mucosal folds (8 of 21), mucosal nodularity (8 of 21), and ulceration (6 of 21). The most frequent locations of disease within the colon were the descending and rectosigmoid portions (13 of 21). We present a case of primary amyloidosis that demonstrates the findings of bowel wall thickening and luminal narrowing on double-contrast barium enema and computed tomography (CT). Pathologic examination in our case, in addition to similar observations from the literature, suggests that at least a part of the radiologic changes of colonic amyloid can be attributed to bowel ischemia.