An infant born in a hospital was found to be suffering from bilious emesis, non-passing of meconium, and abdominal distension within 24 hours of birth. The patient was born to a 28-year-old woman at 39 weeks of gestation. Examinations: Radiography of the abdome n revealed a dilated bowel.
A water-soluble contrast enema demonstrated a uniformly distended and shortened colon, forming a question mark sign. Transanal suction rectal biopsy of the patient was carried out using a specimen obtained at the bedside of the patient, and the results showed: The absence of ganglion cells (hematoxylin and eosin staining) Abnormally thick nerve fibers Negative results for calretinin staining Subsequently, a laparoscopic serial frozen-section biopsy was performed wherein the specimens of the entire colon were taken. The ganglion cells were absent in the specimens, and they were located at the…
