Figure 2.

Pathways to misdiagnosis of microscopic colitis as irritable bowel syndrome in patients who present to a UK primary care physician with chronic diarrhoea. ^aOutcome assumes biopsies^b and histopathological assessment of MC is performed optimally. ^bOptimal biopsies for MC detection defined as stepped biopsies of the colon, with a minimum of two biopsies taken from each of the ascending, transverse and descending/sigmoid colon in separate specimen containers. CD, Crohn’s disease; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; MC, microscopic colitis; NHS, National Health Service; PCP, primary care physician; UC, ulcerative colitis.