Colon Conundrum: A Fascinating Case Report Unraveling the Enigmatic Tactoid Bodies

Tactile corpuscle-like bodies (TCLBs) are specialized mechanoreceptors found in the dermal papilla of glabrous skin. They are normally not found in the gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa. There has been an increase in incidental detection in the GI mucosa due to the widespread use of colonoscopy procedures. However, TCLB's clinical implications in the GI tract remain unknown. We present a case of a 74-year-old man who was noted to have TCLBs in the rectosigmoid mucosa following resection for iatrogenic perforation. The TCLBs were spindle-shaped, positive for S-100, and negative for CD68. We review the literature on TCLBs in the GI tract and discuss their potential function in the GI mucosa.

Tactile Corpuscle-Like Bodies (Wagner-Meissner Corpuscles) of the Colorectum: A Series of 5 Cases

An increase in screening colonoscopies has led to the recent identification and description of several benign mesenchymal proliferations within the colon that may be sampled incidentally or as mucosal polyps. Tactile corpuscle-like bodies (TCLBs) (also known as Wagner-Meissner corpuscles) are Schwannian-derived specialized mechanosensors found in glabrous skin and some mucosal sites. TCLBs are not a normal component of gastrointestinal mucosa but they have been reported in the esophagus, stomach, gastroesophageal junction, and colorectum. Twenty-two cases of tactile corpuscle-like bodies (TCLBs) have been reported to date in the English literature. We herein present five additional cases of TCLBs, all within the colorectum. It is important to distinguish TCLBs from histologic mimics that are associated with inherited syndromes. TCLBs are typically incidental, and are entirely benign.