Biopsy result questions

colorunner · Post by **colorunner** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 4:06 pm

I got a copy of my biopsy result yesterday. I had a colonoscopy about a month ago and was diagnosed with CC. Can anyone explain to me what this means:

"Marked subepithelial collagen deposition with mononuclear cell expansion of the lamina propria and preserved crypt architecture consistent with collagenous colitis".

I understand that there is more collagen than there should be and my diagnosis is CC, but does anyone know what the other stuff refers to?

Also, what is the "normal" amount of collagen that one should have, measurement wise?

Thanks in advance for any help you could give me!

Tonia

Post by **tex** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 5:53 pm

Hi Tonia,

Normal collagen band thickness is 5 to 7 microns. Anything over about 10 microns is consider to be a marker of CC. Typical collagen band thickness for someone with CC is in the 30 to 50 micron range, or more. A micron is one millionth of a meter, (about 1 twenty-five thousandths of an inch, (1"/25,000).

"Marked subepithelial collagen deposition with mononuclear cell expansion of the lamina propria and preserved crypt architecture consistent with collagenous colitis".

Basically, that language means that you fit the typical pattern for the markers of CC, (and not one of the other IBDs). The lamina propria is the layer just below the subepithelial layer, and it marks the maximum limit of the depth into the intestinal walls, which can be affected by MC. The other IBDs penetrate deeper. The other IBDs also negatively affect the crypt architecture, (cavities in the surface of the epithelia), whereas MC does not.

Tex

colorunner · Post by **colorunner** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:15 pm

Thanks for the reply, Tex. So, I guess my measurements of over a centimeter thick in places was pretty thick. Thanks for putting all of that in plain English for me :)

Tonia

Post by **tex** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:22 am

There must have been a misprint in your report. A centimeter is over three-eights of an inch - that would be roughly 200 times the typical collagen band thickness for someone with CC.

Tex

colorunner · Post by **colorunner** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:30 am

I don't know...all of the results were in cm:

A) sample was 0.6 X 0.5 x 0.2cm
B) 0.7 X 0.5 cm x 0.2 cm
c) 0.6 cm x0.4 cm x 0.2 cm
D) sample measure 1.2 cm x 1.0 cm x 0.2 cm

So,not sure? maybe that should read mm instead of cm, but that is what the report says.

Tonia

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:04 am

Those are the measurements of the biopsied tissue samples they studied. The collagen band is just a layer within those samples of the intestine wall.

colorunner · Post by **colorunner** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:20 am

OK, that makes sense! Thanks :)