Histopathology of intestinal fibrosis

Abstract

Fibrostenotic inflammatory bowel disease classically refers to Crohn’s disease, where stricture and submucosal fibrosis are frequent and defining histopathologic features. Descriptions of histologic fibrosis in ulcerative colitis have existed for over half a century, but are not currently part of the clinical diagnostic framework. Histologic scoring systems for fibrosis in inflammatory bowel disease are varied and highlight the need for improved histopathologic correlation, given recent advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of intestinal fibrosis.