ABSTRACT
The chronic inflammation of UC remains confined to the mucosal lining of the colon in a continuous manner (Figs. la and 2a). The disease begins in the rectum and proceeds proximally to a varying but homogeneous extent in all cases
unless treatment (systemic or topical) is administered (1). Histologically, acute (neutrophils, eosinophils) and chronic (lymphocytes, plasma cells, monocytes, macrophages) inflammatory cell infiltrates of mucosa are seen, as well as crypt abscesses, distortion of the mucosal glands, and goblet cell depletion. Except in rare cases with toxic megacolon, the inflammation does not extend into the submucosa, muscularis propria, or serosa.
