Question:

What is the histological difference between Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease?

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Think of neutrophil collections inside the crypts that typify ulcerative colitis.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Diffuse distribution of pseudopolyps
  • Mucosal edema
  • Crypt abscess
  • Lymphoid aggregates in the mucosa
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease are the two main inflammatory bowel diseases, and the question asks for the histological marker that distinguishes them. Step 2: Crypt abscesses (collections of neutrophils within the crypts of Lieberkuhn) along with crypt distortion and destruction are the hallmark microscopic features of ulcerative colitis, where inflammation is limited to the mucosa and submucosa. Step 3: Crohn's disease is instead characterized by transmural inflammation and non-caseating granulomas, not crypt abscesses. Step 4: Therefore crypt abscess is the histological feature that best separates UC from Crohn's disease. Pseudopolyps and mucosal edema are gross or non-specific findings, and lymphoid aggregates can be seen in both, so they do not reliably differentiate the two.
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