Histopathological findings in malabsorptive disorders

Coeliac disease:

• blunt or absent villi
• flattened epithelium
• elongated crypts
• mononuclear cell infiltration of lamina propria

Whipple's disease:

• macrophage infiltration of lamina propria
• bacilli visible within macrophages

Amyloidosis:

• Congo red staining shows amyloid deposits around the vessels of the lamina propria

Crohn's disease:

• non-caseating granulomata

Parasitic infection:

• identification of the parasite in the biopsy

Intestinal lymphoma:

• foci of malignant lymphoid cells in the lamina propria
• variable villous atrophy