Table 4.
Comparison of key histological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients with those of control cases with acute ischaemic enterocolitis
| Histological features | COVID‐19 patients (N = 19), n (%) | Control cases (N = 35), n (%) | P‐value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth of necrosis | 0.155 | ||
| Mucosa/submucosa | 6 (32) | 19 (54) | |
| Mural/transmural | 13 (68) | 16 (46) | |
| Distribution of necrosis | 1.000 | ||
| Focal/multifocal | 8 (42) | 16 (46) | |
| Diffuse | 11 (58) | 19 (54) | |
| Histological evidence of pneumatosis | 0.010 | ||
| Absent | 5 (26) | 23 (66) | |
| Present | 14 (74) | 12 (34) | |
| Small vessel fibrin thrombi | <0.001 | ||
| Absent | 0 (0) | 20 (57) | |
| Few | 5 (26) | 10 (29) | |
| Numerous | 14 (74) | 5 (14) | |
| Small vessel fibrinous degeneration with perivascular neutrophils | <0.001 | ||
| Absent | 2 (11) | 16 (46) | |
| Few vessels | 7 (37) | 16 (46) | |
| Numerous vessels | 10 (53) | 3 (9) | |
| Fibrin strands in submucosal vessels | 0.007 | ||
| Absent | 8 (42) | 28 (80) | |
| Few vessels | 9 (47) | 7 (20) | |
| Numerous vessels | 2 (11) | 0 (0) |