Hirschsprung disease presenting as sigmoid volvulus: a case report and review of the literature

Mary Zeng; John Amodio; Steve Schwarz; Eugene Garrow; Jiliu Xu; Simon S Rabinowitz

doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2012.10.042

Hirschsprung disease presenting as sigmoid volvulus: a case report and review of the literature

J Pediatr Surg. 2013 Jan;48(1):243-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2012.10.042.

Authors

Mary Zeng¹, John Amodio, Steve Schwarz, Eugene Garrow, Jiliu Xu, Simon S Rabinowitz

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pediatrics, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA.

PMID: 23331823
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2012.10.042

Abstract

While sigmoid volvulus is commonly seen in older patients, it is rarely encountered in children and younger adults. Consequently, heightened awareness of this entity is required to avoid a delay in diagnosis. Among the pediatric and adult cases of colonic volvulus previously reported in the English literature, 23 of the affected individuals have also been diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease (HD). This report describes a 12-year-old male with a history of chronic constipation who presented with vomiting and abdominal distension and was found to have sigmoid volvulus with previously unrecognized HD. The case presentation is followed by a review of the literature describing colonic volvulus secondary to HD in children.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Child
Hirschsprung Disease / complications
Hirschsprung Disease / diagnosis*
Humans
Intestinal Volvulus / diagnosis
Intestinal Volvulus / etiology*
Male
Sigmoid Diseases / diagnosis
Sigmoid Diseases / etiology*