[Initial manifestation of thromboangiitis obliterans as necrotizing colitis]

Necrotizing colitis as primary manifestation of Buerger's disease. We report the disease process of a 41 year old woman, who was referred to our clinic with intermittent claudication of the leg. She has been an excessive smoker since early youth. Three years ago a hemicolectomy was carried out because of a necrotizing colitis. The clinical, angiographic and histologic findings are presented. Finally the frequency of intestinal Buerger's disease and the types of clinical course are discussed.