toxic megacolon
Last reviewed 07/2021
Toxic megacolon is a life-threatening complication of inflammatory or infectious colitis.
The essential features are:
- segmental, non-obstructive dilatation of the colon to greater than 6 cm diameter (1)
- systemic toxicity
Reference:
- Sheth SG, LaMont JT (1998). Toxic megacolon. Lancet 351: 509-13