toxic megacolon

Last reviewed 07/2021

Toxic megacolon is a life-threatening complication of inflammatory or infectious colitis.

The essential features are:

• segmental, non-obstructive dilatation of the colon to greater than 6 cm diameter (1)
• systemic toxicity

Reference:

• Sheth SG, LaMont JT (1998). Toxic megacolon. Lancet 351: 509-13