Colitis cystica profunda of the rectum: An unexpected operative finding

Figure 1 Endoscopic appearance of colitis cystic profunda - a polypoid lesion in the rectum covered by smooth mucosal.

Figure 2 Intraoperative findings - excision through a vertical mucosal incision dissecting the lesion wholemeal from the submucosal layer.

Figure 3 Operative specimen - the excised lesion was cystic containing mucous.

Figure 4 Hematoxylin and eosin stain of histopathology slide - this is a cyst containing inspissated mucin and lined by large bowel type benign mucinous epithelium with surrounding fibrosis.