ROENTGENOGRAPHIC MANIFESTATIONS OF CONGENITAL MEGACOLON (HIRSCHSPRUNG'S DISEASE) IN EARLY INFANCY

The roentgenographic findings in the first month of life were reviewed in a series of 23 infants with histologically proven [See FIG. 9. in source pdf] Hirschsprung's disease. The plain roentgenograms of 18 of the babies showed significant large bowel distention and 12 had prominent colonic fluid levels. In 15 of 19 of the patients which had been subjected to barium enema, the roentgenograms are diagnostic of congenital megacolon. In 5 of 7 of the infants contrast enemas in the first week of life demonstrated the characteristic deformity. The conclusions which appear justified from this investigation are: Congenital megacolon (Hirschsprung's disease) may be strongly suspected in the newborn period in a large majority of cases from the appearance of plain roentgenograms of the abdomen made in recumbent and erect projections. In some instances, roentgenograms in the inverted position supply additional or substantiating evidence of the disease. In lesions starting in the proximal half of the colon, the abdominal distention involves mainly small bowel, and the differentiation from low jejunal or ileal obstruction is usually not possible from the plain roentgenograms. Here examination by barium enema may be expected to establish the diagnosis. When the segment of achalasia begins above the ileocecal valve, the plain roentgenograms again indicate small bowel obstruction, but here barium enema does not demonstrate a significant contour or caliber abnormality of the colon. In this type of case, follow-up roentgenograms 24 and 48 hours after the enema will often show considerable retention of the barium thus suggesting the diagnosis which must be confirmed by biopsy. When the proximal end of the involved segment of colon is low in the rectum, the lesion may be very difficult to demonstrate by barium enema. The age factor alone, i.e., the performance of the examination very early in infancy, does not of itself preclude demonstration of the lesion of Hirschsprung's disease by barium enema.