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Endoscopy 1981; 13(2): 60-63
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1021648
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Synopsis of Endoscopic and other Morphological Findings in Intestinal Lymphangiectasia

J.F. Riemann, H. Schmidt
  • Department of Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
This paper was presented in part at the XI. European Congress of Gastroenterology, Session on Electron Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hamburg, June 9-13, 1980
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Publication Date:
17 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

Intestinal lymphangiectasia may present as a primary congenital disorder as well as a secondary form due to numerous underlying diseases. Endoscopically, whitish swollen tips of the villi are fairly characteristic; histologically, dilatation of the lymphatics can be demonstrated. By means of electron microscopy dilated intercellular spaces with aggregation of protein precipitations as well as ectatic lymph vessels with abnormal structure are found. Possible relations to the pathomechanism are discussed.

Key words:

Intestinal lymphangiectasia - Endoscopic appearance - Dilation of lymph vessels - Ultrastructure