What are Cryptitis & Crypto Abscess?

What is a crypt abscess, you ask?

The crypt abscess is the most common histological (microscopic), lesion in ulcerative colitis. In this case, the epithelium of crypt has been broken down and the lumen is filled with polymorphonuclear cell. Leukocytes infiltrate the lamina propria.

What is Basal Lymphoplasmacytosis, in the same way? Basal lymphoplasmacytosis is the presence of lymphoplasmacytic cells between the crypt bases (Figure 2B). Paneth cells are an important component of the right colon. However, their presence in left colon is due to metaplastic disease (Figure 2C).

What does Cryptitis look like?

Cryptocitis is an inflammation of the intestinal crypt in histology. Cryptitis is a non-specific histopathologic finding that can be seen in many conditions, e.g. Diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease and infectious colitis.

What is crypt architecture distortion?

Early Crohn's disease is characterised by an acute inflammatory infection in the lamina propria. This can lead to cryptitis and crypt abscesses. The crypt architecture is distorted later in the disease process due to a lymphocytic infection and the subsequent branching and shortening.