Intramucosal stercolith of colon

A 27-year-old woman underwent colonoscopy because of chronic constipation and a family history of colon cancer. Colonoscopy revealed a 1.2-cm yellowish sessile lesion with transparent overlying mucosa, at the descending colon (Figure [1 a]). The mass was firm in consistency. After a mucosal defect was created using a biopsy forceps, a yellowish mass was extruded that spontaneously separated into two fragments (Figure [1 b]). Endoscopic mucosal resection was done to remove residual mucosa.

Figure 1 a Colonoscopy revealed a 1.2-cm yellowish sessile lesion with transparent overlying mucosa at the descending colon. b After a mucosal defect was created using a biopsy forceps, a yellowish mass was extruded that spontaneously separated into two fragments.

Histopathologic examination of the mass revealed a well-demarcated plant skin surrounding multiple calcified cellular structures (Figure [2 a]). The possibility of it being a plant seed was considered. A fibrotic area, suspected to be a previous mucosal defect was found on the resected mucosa (arrow, Figure [2 b]). Finally, a stercolith embedded in the colon wall was diagnosed.

Figure 2 a Histopathologic examination of the mass revealed a well-demarcated plant skin surrounding multiple calcified cellular structures (hematoxylin and eosin [H & E]; original magnification × 40). b A fibrotic area, suspected to be a previous mucosal defect, was found on the resected mucosa (arrow) (H & E; original magnification × 100).

An intramural foreign body in the digestive tract is an unusual condition. A sharp foreign body easily damages the mucosa, increasing the likelihood of its becoming intramural. There are case reports of intramural foreign bodies in the esophagus [1], but this is the first report of a stercolith embedded in the wall of the colon. Removal of a submucosal tumor using a biopsy forceps has been reported [2], and we used the same method to successfully remove this intramucosal stercolith. In this case, we demonstrated not only the intramucosal location but also the mucosal defect where the foreign body might have entered.

Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CCL_1AD_2AC
Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CCL_1AD_2AH

References

• 1 Mathur N N, Kumar S, Bothra R. Intramural foreign body in oesophagus.  Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol.. 2004;  68 837-839
• 2 Mah Y H, Huang S P, Chen J H. et al . Gastric submucosal tumor removal.  Gastrointest Endosc. 2005;  61 290-291