Clinical Medicine Insights: Pathology

Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of many rheumatological diseases including temporal arteritis. The gastrointestinal perforation during corticosteroid treatment is a serious complication. Colon perforation after steroid use was first reported by Beck et al in 1950.1 Although the pathophysiological mechanism is not understood clearly, it is claimed that steroids probably by disturbing the intestinal mucosal barrier, facilitate the intestinal perforation. The long term treatment with corticosteroids increases the risk of colon perforation. We are presenting a patient who was taking corticosteroid due to temporal arteritis for two years and operated with sigmoid diverticular perforation.