Zuelzer-Wilson syndrome, also known as total colonic aganglionosis, is a subset of Hirschsprung disease, in which the whole colon is aganglionic.

Epidemiology

It is uncommon and accounts for 2-13% of cases of Hirschsprung disease ^3,7. Compared with Hirschsprung disease which has a marked male predominance, Zuelzer-Wilson syndrome only has a slight male predominance (M:F of 1-1.5:1) ⁷.

Associations

The condition has been associated with other congenital syndromes, including congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (Ondine's curse) ⁶.

Clinical presentation

Similar to Hirschsprung disease, most patients present as neonates, or less commonly as infants ⁷. Very rarely do patients present beyond infancy.

The presentation can have either an acute or chronic course ⁷:

• acute (generally neonates): features of bowel obstruction (e.g. abdominal distension, not passing meconium, etc.)
• chronic (generally after the neonatal period): chronic constipation, failure to thrive

Pathology

Zuelzer-Wilson syndrome is characterized by aganglionosis (absence of ganglion cells) throughout the entire colon ⁷. Additionally, variable amounts of the small intestine may also be involved ⁵.

Treatment and prognosis

Multiple procedures have been devised to treat the condition, including ileorectal anastomosis, ileum pouch anal anastomosis without a clearly superior method ^4,8. If there is small bowel involvement, intestinal transplantation may be required ⁵.