Figure 1.

Microscopic features of dysplasia in ulcerative colitis. A: A minor degree of architectural aberration may occur in low-grade dysplasia (HE stain, × 100); B: Low-grade dysplasia is characterized by epithelium that contains cells with significant nuclear hyperchromaticity, enlargement, and elongation. The cytoplasm is mucin depleted, and, as a result, is hypereosinophilic (HE stain, × 200); C: The degree of architectural aberration is more prominent in high-grade dysplasia. Architectural aberrations, such as a complex crypt branching, or a back-to-back growth pattern that is characterized by dysplastic crypts that show little or no intervening lamina propria, also may be present (HE stain, × 400); D: Full-thickness nuclear stratification, significant loss of cell polarity, nuclear pleomorphism are characteristic features of high-grade dysplasia (HE stain, × 400).