darmpathologie

Darmpathologie, or intestinal pathology, is a medical subspecialty of pathology that focuses on the diagnosis and study of diseases of the intestines. Pathologists evaluate tissue samples obtained by endoscopy, surgery, or autopsy to identify inflammatory, infectious, ischemic, neoplastic, and congenital conditions affecting the small and large intestine, including the appendix. The discipline integrates histopathology with clinical and radiologic information to guide patient management.

Diagnostic workup relies on routine light microscopy of hematoxylin-eosin–stained sections, supported by special stains and immunohistochemistry. Ancillary techniques such as molecular testing, in situ hybridization, or PCR may be employed to identify infectious agents, characterize inflammatory patterns, or determine genetic alterations. In many centers, emphasis is placed on accurate assessment of architectural changes, inflammatory infiltrates, epithelial injury, ulceration, granulomas, dysplasia, and lymphoid or neoplastic processes.

Key disease areas include inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), celiac disease with villous atrophy, infectious enteritis, ischemic bowel disease, diverticular disease, microscopic colitis, and a broad range of neoplasms such as colorectal adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, and polyposis syndromes. Detected dysplasia or mismatch repair deficiency has implications for cancer surveillance, prognosis, and targeted therapy.

The pathology report contributes to treatment decisions, staging, and surveillance planning, often within a multidisciplinary team. Training in darmpathologie occurs within surgical pathology fellowships and GI pathology subspecialties, with ongoing research in molecular profiling and translational diagnostics.