[Mucosal pseudo-lipomatosis of the colon. Apropos of a case with a review of the literature].

Mucosal pseudolipomatosis of the colon is an infrequent condition that occurs mainly in elderly males, usually involves the left colon, and is manifested clinically by passage of blood per rectum. Among the 26 cases reported in the literature, radiological and endoscopic investigations revealed a dolichosigmoid in the two cases where this feature was mentioned. Colonoscopy shows solitary or multiple whitish-yellowish plaques, which are localized or involve several segments. Histologic studies demonstrate microscopic cavities measuring 20 to 240 mu in diameter. Histochemical stains show that these cavities contain no lipids, suggesting that they are filled with gas. The genesis of these lesions may involve injury to the colonic mucosa followed by penetration of gas during endoscopic and biopsic procedures.