Megacolon

Megacolon
Toxic megacolon associated with ulcerative colitis.
SpecialtyGastroenterology Edit this on Wikidata

Megacolon is an abnormal dilation of the colon (also called the large intestine). This leads to hypertrophy of the colon. The dilation is often accompanied by a paralysis of the peristaltic movements of the bowel. In more extreme cases, the feces consolidate into hard masses inside the colon, called fecalomas, which can require surgery to be removed.

A human colon is considered abnormally enlarged if it has a diameter greater than 12 cm (4.7 in) in the cecum (it is usually less than 9 cm [3.5 in]), greater than 6.5 cm (2.6 in) in the rectosigmoid region and greater than 8 cm (3.1 in) for the ascending colon. The transverse colon is usually less than 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter.

A megacolon can be either acute or chronic. It can also be classified according to cause.

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