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Toxic idiopathic megacolon: Fatal outcome in a mentally retarded adolescent

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Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Summary

The case of an 18-year-old mentally retarded boy who had long standing idiopathic megacolon and pica is presented. Acute toxic dilatation of the colon complicating pseudomembranous colitis developed, with a rapidly fatal outcome. No similar case of relatively benign idiopathic megacolon complicated by pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon has been reported. The pathophysiology of this rare combination is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hadassah University Hosptial, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel

    Alex Leventhal M.D. & Zvi Gimmon (Goldschmidt) M.D.

Authors
  1. Alex Leventhal M.D.
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  2. Zvi Gimmon (Goldschmidt) M.D.
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Leventhal, A., Gimmon (Goldschmidt), Z. Toxic idiopathic megacolon: Fatal outcome in a mentally retarded adolescent. Dis Colon Rectum 21, 383–386 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02586675

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02586675

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