Drug-Induced Colon Injury

Drug-induced injury of the colon is a relatively frequent though underestimated event. The histological manifestations are very variable and frequently mimic other disease entities with different etiologies. The pathologist should try to give to the clinician indications concerning a possible drug-related etiology of the injury, with a specification of the drug involved, if feasible. Careful clinicopathological confrontation is important to distinguish drug-related injury from other diseases of the colon. The following section provides an overview of the different patterns that can be encountered in drug-induced colon injury, their relation to specific medications, and the possible differential diagnosis.