Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Toxic megacolon is a life-threatening complication of other intestinal conditions that causes rapid widening (dilation) of the large intestine within 1 to a few days.
Alternative Names
Toxic dilation of the colon; Megarectum
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Toxic megacolon occurs as a complication of inflammatory bowel disease, such as
This is not the same as other forms of megacolon, such as pseudo-obstruction, acute colonic ileus, or congenital colonic dilation. These conditions occur without infection or inflammation.
Review Date: 01/20/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of
Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San
Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
