Hirschsprung's Disease: A New Concept of the Etiology

CONGENITAL megacolon has been recognized as a clinical entity for over a hundred years. Many reports were written on the subject before Hirschsprung1 published his classic description of the disease in 1888. His presentation included the clinical study and autopsy findings of 2 patients with megacolon and was more complete than anything previously recorded. Subsequently, scores of papers have been written on the etiology and treatment of megacolon.The numerous theories set forth in these publications may be divided into four categories and summarized as follows2 , 3:The disease is due to congenital lesions in the dilated colon. Hirschsprung1 thought . . .