Squamous cell metaplasia of the rectum associated with a longstanding ulcerative colitis (clinical cases report)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: squamous cell metaplasia in the rectum is found in patients with longstanding inflammation or infectious lesions [1]. Colonoscopy plays a major role in the diagnostic of squamous cell metaplasia, especially with the use of Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) or Blue Light Imagining (BLI), which allows for targeted visualization of intraepithelial capillary loopspeculiar for the squamous epithelium [1,2]. The final conclusion cannot be reached without morphological diagnostics. We would like to show on two clinical cases of patients with a longstanding ulcerative colitis the occurrence of squamous cell metaplasia in the rectum. These areas of metaplasia may be the source of squamous cell cancer.CLINICAL CASES: a clinical cases of squamous cell metaplasia in the rectum in two patients with a longstanding ulcerative colitis (9 and 14 years) are presented. The total ulcerative colitis was verified in both patients by colonoscopy. Against the background of endoscopic remission, flat whitish areas of irregular shape, up to 3 cm in size, in the form of “tongues” of metaplastic epithelium with clear boundaries were found in the low rectum. When examined in a Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) and Blue Light Imagining (BLI), the microvascular pattern in the detected areas was identical in structure to the microvascular pattern of the squamous epithelium. The biopsies confirmed the presence of squamous cell epithelium.CONCLUSION: patients with a longstanding ulcerative colitis may have squamous cell metaplasia of the rectal mucosa, which can be detected by colonoscopy in white light. Using a Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) followed by a targeted biopsy allows the most accurate diagnosis to be established. Patients of this group require repeated colonoscopies using the above methods, since areas of metaplasia can be a source of squamous cell cancer of the rectum.