IDDF2022-ABS-0264 The pathologic features and diagnostic role of schaumann bodies in crohn’s disease

BackgroundSchaumann bodies were first recognized in sarcoidosis by Dr Schaumann in 1941. They were reported to be detected in 10% of Crohn’s disease (CD) cases. But the characteristics and significance of Schaumann bodies in CD have not been clarified yet.MethodsSurgically resected bowel specimens from various bowel diseases, including CD, intestinal tuberculosis, ulcerative colitis, intestinal schistosomiasis, diverticulosis, and idiopathic mesenteric vasculopathy from 3 centers were collected from January 1st, 2018 to July 1st, 2021. The pathologic features, the diagnostic significance of Schaumann bodies, and their correlation with pathologic and clinical characteristics of CD were studied.ResultsAltogether 279 surgically resected bowel specimens and 4 endoscopy biopsies were collected. Schaumann bodies were isolated cellular oval crystal or concentric laminated calcified bodies. They were presented exclusively in CD (27.0%), and not detected in other intestinal diseases. Schaumann bodies in CD deposited along the myenteric plexus in muscularis propria (92.1%) (IDDF2022-ABS-0264 Figure 1). They were small (diameter: 60.3±32.7μm), with a low density in the intestinal wall (1.14±0.42 per low power field). The majority (84.2%) of Schaumann bodies were located within the cytoplasm of multinucleated giant cells which were not within or adjacent to granulomas. CD cases with Schaumann bodies were associated with a higher occurrence of granulomas than cases without (86.8% vs. 65.0%, respectively), and tend to be female patients.Abstract IDDF2022-ABS-0264 Figure 1ConclusionsSchaumann bodies are not uncommon in CD. Their deposition pattern is characteristically scattered along the myenteric plexus in muscularis propria, which is exclusively seen in CD and may serve as a diagnostic clue for CD.