Hirschsprung's Disease

• Condition of extreme dilation and hypertrophy of the colon results from failure of neural crest cells to migrate into the wall of the colon and to differentiate into parasympathetic ganglion cells.

Histologically (seen in tissues microscopically): lack of ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus in the affected bowel, usually rectum or sigmoid colon.

Clinical features:

• Fecal retention
• Abdominal distention at birth