Hirschsprung Disease

This rectosigmoid resection specimen is from a male infant who presented with distension of abdomen, bloody diarrhea, as well as constipation. Barium enema was suggestive of Hirschsprung Disease involving the anorectal junction (Ultra-short segment type). Gross distension of rectum and sigmoid was noted. A frozen section at the time of corrective surgery confirmed the absence of ganglion cells in the submucosal (Meissner) and in the myenteric (Auerbach) plexuses. The resected specimen measured 20cm in length and 8cm in maximum diameter. The narrow distal end (rectum) is on the left and the proximal dilated end (sigmoid) is on the right. Case courtesy of : Dr. Sanjay D. Deshmukh, Department of Pathology, Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College, Pune, India. Used with permission.