histopathological findings in malabsorptive disorders

Last reviewed 01/2018

Coeliac disease:

  • blunt or absent villi
  • flattened epithelium
  • elongated crypts
  • mononuclear cell infiltration of lamina propria

Whipple's disease:

  • macrophage infiltration of lamina propria
  • bacilli visible within macrophages

Amyloidosis:

  • Congo red staining shows amyloid deposits around the vessels of the lamina propria

Crohn's disease:

  • non-caseating granulomata

Parasitic infection:

  • identification of the parasite in the biopsy

Intestinal lymphoma:

  • foci of malignant lymphoid cells in the lamina propria
  • variable villous atrophy