Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2025
Assessing Urinary Tract Junction Obstruction Defects by Methylene Blue Dye Injection
Published on: October 12, 2017
Congenital anomalies of the tubular gastrointestinal tract
Katrhin Ludwig1, Debora De Bartolo2, Angela Salerno3
1Department of Pathology, Azienda Ospedale-Università Padova, Padua, Italy.
Insights
Congenital gastrointestinal (GI) anomalies can affect all ages, requiring prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention for optimal outcomes. Early detection and accurate pathological diagnosis are crucial for effective management and family counseling.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Pediatric surgery
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Congenital anomalies of the tubular gastrointestinal (GI) tract are a significant cause of morbidity in infants, children, and adults.
- GI tract development involves complex molecular pathways controlling gut tube and organ formation from primitive germ layers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common and clinically significant congenital anomalies of the tubular GI tract.
- To emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and surgical treatment for improved prognosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of frequent and clinically important congenital anomalies of the tubular GI tract.
- Discussion includes atresias, duplications, intestinal malrotation, Meckel's diverticulum, and Hirschsprung's Disease.
Main Results:
- Disruptions in embryonic GI development can lead to various congenital anomalies, often presenting in infancy but sometimes remaining undetected until later childhood.
- Surgical therapy is the primary treatment, with prognosis heavily influenced by early diagnosis and appropriate management.
Conclusions:
- Accurate pathological diagnosis is vital for immediate treatment, management, and future genetic counseling, especially in syndromic cases.
- Understanding these anomalies is crucial for clinicians managing affected individuals and their families.
Abstract:
Congenital anomalies of the tubular gastrointestinal tract are an important cause of morbidity not only in infants, but also in children and adults.
Abstract:
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract, composed of all three primitive germ layers, develops early during embryogenesis. Two major steps in its development are the formation of the gut tube (giving rise to the foregut, the midgut and the hindgut), and the formation of individual organs with specialized cell types.
Abstract:
Formation of an intact and functioning GI tract is under strict control from various molecular pathways. Disruption of any of these crucial mechanisms involved in the cell-fate decision along the dorsoventral, anteroposterior, left-right and radial axes, can lead to numerous congenital anomalies, most of which occur and present in infancy. However, they may run undetected during childhood.
Abstract:
Therapy is surgical, which in some cases must be performed urgently, and prognosis depends on early diagnosis and suitable treatment.
Abstract:
A precise pathologic macroscopic or microscopic diagnosis is important, not only for the immediate treatment and management of affected individuals, but also for future counselling of the affected individual and their family. This is even more true in cases of multiple anomalies or syndromic patterns.
Abstract:
We discuss some of the more frequent or clinically important congenital anomalies of the tubular GI, including atresia's, duplications, intestinal malrotation, Meckel's diverticulum and Hirschsprung's Disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Renal Tubule and Collecting Duct
Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT):
The PCT is the initial segment of the renal tubule, extending from the Bowman's capsule that encloses the glomerulus. Its convoluted structure and microvilli-lined cells increase the surface area for reabsorption. The PCT reabsorbs glucose, amino acids, sodium, and water from the filtrate, ensuring essential...
01:20Disorders of the Urinary System
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common urinary system disorders. They are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and can spread to the bladder resulting in cystitis. Pyelonephritis is the result of a UTI that has ascended to the level of the...
01:20Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders
01:27Glucose Transporters
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
01:11Anatomy of the Genitourinary System I: Kidneys and Ureters
01:20Inborn Errors of Metabolism