| Pseudopolyps | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Colonic pseudopolyps of a patient with intractable ulcerative colitis. Colectomy specimen. | |
| Specialty | Gastroenterology, Pathology |
| Complications | Bowel obstruction |
| Differential diagnosis | Familial adenomatous polyposis |
Pseudopolyps are projecting masses of scar tissue that develop from granulation tissue during the healing phase in repeated cycle of ulceration (especially in inflammatory bowel disease)[ where? ][ which? ]. Inflammatory tissue without malignant potential, [1] pseudopolyps may represent either regenerating mucosal islands between areas of ulceration, edematous polypoid tags or granulation tissue covered by epithelium. [2] There are reported cases when localized giant pseudopolyposis resulted in intestinal obstruction. [3]
Residual mucosal islands between ulcerated and denuded areas of mucosa may have a polypoid appearance and are referred to as pseudopolyps. [4] Polyposis syndromes, such as familial adenomatous polyposis, could give rise to a similar appearance on imaging, although the clinical presentation would differ from that of inflammatory pseudopolyposis. [5]
Numerous, confluent ulcerations with bulging of the edematous residual mucosa determine a cobblestone appearance at endoscopy. [6] [7]
