Schaumann bodies in Crohn's disease: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Schaumann bodies are inclusion bodies, first described by Schaumann in 1941, typically seen in granulomatous diseases such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis and chronic beryllium diseases. Williams WJ, in 1964, reported Schaumann bodies to occur in 10% of Crohn's disease (CD). We report a case of Crohn's disease, initially misdiagnosed as a schistosoma-related colitis for the presence of numerous calcified bodies resembling calcified ova and scattered granulomas. Subsequent biopsies showed more typical histological features and, in combination with a more complete clinical history, diagnosis of Crohn's disease was made.