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Hirschsprung's disease in an adult

Special reference to histochemical determination of the acetylcholinesterase activity

  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

A 24-year-old Japanese woman with Hirschsprung's disease was subjected to the combination of barium enema, anorectal manometry, and a histochemical study of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in rectal suction biopsy. The histochemistry revealed a marked increase of AChE positive nerve fibers. The importance of such a study is stressed in order to diagnose Hirschsprung's disease correctly, even in adults. A Z-shaped anastomosis as a modification of Duhamel's method was carried out. The postoperative course was uneventful and she now has normal bowel evacuation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University 60, 1-1-3, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, 812, Fukuoka, Japan

    Seiichi Goto M.D., Keiichi Ikeda M.D. & Akira Nagasaki M.D.

  2. Second Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan

    Akira Tomokiyo M.D.

  3. Department of Pediatric Surgery, St. Maria Hospital, Kurume, Japan

    Morio Kusaba M.D.

Authors
  1. Seiichi Goto M.D.
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  2. Keiichi Ikeda M.D.
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  3. Akira Nagasaki M.D.
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  4. Akira Tomokiyo M.D.
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  5. Morio Kusaba M.D.
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Cite this article

Goto, S., Ikeda, K., Nagasaki, A. et al. Hirschsprung's disease in an adult. Dis Colon Rectum 27, 319–320 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555644

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555644

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