Fistula
Dr Roland Warner et al.
A fistula (plural fistulae) is an abnormal connection between two epithelial surfaces such as between hollow organs, skin or vessels. Conventionally, the name of a specific fistula type is a combination of the two organs
For discussions of specific fistulae please refer to individual articles.
Pathology
Etiology
A wide variety of etiologies are implicated:
- congenital
- acquired
- surgical
- post inflammatory e.g. Crohn disease, pancreatitis, diverticulitis
- radiation therapy
- infection
- post-traumatic
- secondary to a foreign body
- malignancy
Types
Various types of fistula have been described:
- GIT
- vascular
- breast
- urogenital
- pulmonary
History and etymology
From the Latin, fistula means tube or pipe 1.
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