FreeMD® Toxic Megacolon Definition

Toxic Megacolon

Definition

Toxic Megacolon Definition

Common names:

Megacolon
Toxic Megacolon

A person with toxic megacolon has rare, life-threatening, inflammation and enlargement of the colon, caused by another illness.

An inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis, usually causes toxic megacolon.

Continue to Toxic Megacolon Incidence

Related Topics:

Abdominal pain
Crohn's disease
Diarrhea
Hirschsprung's disease
Ischemic bowel disease
Pseudomembranous colitis
Ulcerative colitis
More...

Abdominal pain

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Last Updated: Sep 8, 2008 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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Toxic Megacolon References:

Gan SI, Beck PL. A new look at toxic megacolon: an update and review of incidence, etiology, pathogenesis, and management. Am J Gastroenterol. 2003 Nov;98(11):2363-71.
Imbriaco M, Balthazar EJ. Toxic megacolon: role of CT in evaluation and detection of complications. Clin Imaging. 2001 Sep-Oct;25(5):349-54.
Pascu M, Muller AR, Wiedenmann B, Dignass AU. Rescue therapy with tacrolimus in a patient with toxic megacolon. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2003 May;18(3):271-5.