Hirschsprung disease (short segment type)

Case contributed by Aditya Shetty
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Constipation.

Patient Data

Age: 2 years
Gender: Male

Barium enema findings:

  • narrowing of recto-sigmoid segment of intestine
  • proximal dilatation of the colon
  • 'jejunization' of the descending colon
Annotated image

Annotated images

  1. short narrowed segment indicated between the yellow dotted lines; TZ = transition zone
  2. yellow arrows indicate the small bowel (jejunal) pattern to the descending colon 

Case Discussion

Case of short segment Hirschsprung disease

Known cause of obstruction in neonates and up to 5 years of age

Recto-sigmoid ratio is an objective method of assessment

Recto-sigmoid ratio less than 1 is diagnostic for the short segment type

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