Segmental dilatation of the small intestine.

In 1959 Swenson and Rathauser described three patients with an unusual dilatation of the colon. Each case had been referred to the hospital with a diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease (congenital aganglionic megacolon), and on the whole the histories were consistent with this diagnosis. Histological examination of a pre-operative rectal biopsy specimen and a specimen taken during operation, however, demonstrated the presence of ganglion cells. In all three patients the dilated segment of colon was resected, and ganglion cells were also identified in the resected specimens. After the operation the patients were symptom free. Recently we have seen a girl with a malformation very similar to that described by Swenson and Rathauser, but located to the small intestine, and with iron deficiency anaemia as the presenting sign.