Mast Cells in Small-Bowel Ulcers

Abstract

To the Editor:— In reference to Potassium-Induced Lesions of the Small Bowel, by Allen et al ( 193 : 997, 1965)—several months before Baker's paper appeared inThe Journal( 190 :586, 1964), I, as a pathologist in a small general hospital, was faced with two cases of constricting circumferential smallbowel ulcers. Both surgical specimens were of identical gross and similar microscopic appearances. Both occurred in middle-aged white women with symptoms of chronic bowel obstruction. In examining multiple blocks I observed that, in some areas of the circumference, the lesion appeared less advanced or less intense than in others. The earlier lesions seemingly involved crypts of the mucosa. In addition, there was moderate epithelial hyperplasia at the edges of the narrow ulcers as well as striking eosinophilia in all sections. All three features, crypt involvement, epithelial hyperplasia, and eosinophilia, suggested a relation to ulcerative colitis. Further, mast cells were abundant in Giemsa preparations.