Dysplastic crypts with lateral buddings in tubular adenomas

Abstract

Tubular adenomas (TA) are the most frequent of all colorectal adenomas. Current definitions of TA do not include the phenotype of the dysplastic crypts. We report a novel crypt phenotype characterized by dysplastic crypts with lateral buddings (DCLB). Out of the 309 TA, 25.9 % (n=80) exhibited DCLBs: 12.5 % (n=10) had one DCLB focus/TA, 15.0 % (n=12) had two DCLB foci/TA, 27.5 % (n=22) three had three DCLB foci/TA, 30.0 % (n=24) had four DCLB foci/TA, 12.5 % (n=10) had five DCLB foci/TA, and in the remaining 2.5 %n (n=2) most fields of view at x4 showed DCLB foci. DCLB in TA were generated independently of TA size or degree of dysplasia. The presence of DCLB was not influenced by age, gender or localization. In conclusion, a novel histologic phenotype of TA is showcased. DCLBs are integral components in some of the TA. Recently, another novel dysplastic crypt phenotype in TA characterized by dysplastic crypts in tandem was reported. The awareness that different dysplastic crypt phenotypes thrive in TA might open a new vista on research aimed to learn more about why the most prevalent of all colorectal adenomas thrive with a low capacity to invade the host.