The tiger stripe pattern is caused by which condition?

• A. Lymphangiectasia of the lacteal
• B. Intestinal villous atrophy
• C. Bacterial overgrowth
• D. Pyloric stenosis

Answer: (A)

The tiger stripe pattern reflects dilation of the intestinal lacteals (lymphangiectasia). When lacteals in the lamina propria and submucosa become dilated, and edema plus lipid-rich lymph accumulates, the mucosa shows alternating bands of thickened, edematous tissue and relatively normal segments along the folds. This creates a striped appearance characteristic of lymphatic dilation in the small intestine. The other processes don’t produce this pattern: villous atrophy flattens villi and alters the mucosal surface differently; bacterial overgrowth causes nonspecific mucosal changes without a regular striped appearance; pyloric stenosis affects the stomach, not the small bowel mucosa.