Megacolon

Megacolon
Toxic megacolon associated with ulcerative colitis.
SpecialtyGastroenterology Edit this on Wikidata

Megacolon is an abnormal dilation of the colon (also called the large intestine).[1][2] This leads to hypertrophy of the colon.[2] The dilation is often accompanied by a paralysis of the peristaltic movements of the bowel. In more extreme cases, the feces consolidate into hard masses inside the colon, called fecalomas (literally, fecal tumor), which can require surgery to be removed.

A human colon is considered abnormally enlarged if it has a diameter greater than 12 cm[3] in the cecum (it is usually less than 9 cm[4]), greater than 6.5 cm[3] in the rectosigmoid region and greater than 8 cm[3] for the ascending colon. The transverse colon is usually less than 6 cm in diameter.[4]

A megacolon can be either acute or chronic. It can also be classified according to cause.[5]

  1. ^ "megacolon" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  2. ^ a b Washabau, Robert J. (2013-01-01), Washabau, Robert J.; Day, Michael J. (eds.), "Chapter 10 - Constipation", Canine and Feline Gastroenterology, Saint Louis: W.B. Saunders, pp. 93–98, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4160-3661-6.00010-9, ISBN 978-1-4160-3661-6, retrieved 2020-12-21
  3. ^ a b c Megacolon, Chronic at eMedicine
  4. ^ a b Horton KM, Corl FM, Fishman EK (2000). "CT evaluation of the colon: inflammatory disease". Radiographics. 20 (2): 399–418. doi:10.1148/radiographics.20.2.g00mc15399. PMID 10715339.
  5. ^ Porter NH (1961). "Megacolon: a physiological study". Proc. R. Soc. Med. 54: 1043–7. PMC 1870487. PMID 14488085.