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Updated: Jun 16, 2025
Author Spotlight: Investigating the Pathophysiology of Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Published on: May 10, 2024
Eosinophilic myenteric ganglionitis: A case in a 14-year-old-male
Anthony Price1,2, Tandis Rastegarlari3, Sanober Khowaja3
1John Sealy School of Medicine The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Galveston Texas USA.
Insights
Eosinophilic myenteric ganglionitis (EMG), a rare neuropathy, can cause chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) in children. This case highlights EMG with unique cell components as a potential cause of CIPO in a pediatric patient.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Neuropathology
- Rare Diseases
Background:
- Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a severe pediatric condition with high morbidity.
- Eosinophilic myenteric ganglionitis (EMG) is a rare inflammatory neuropathy of the myenteric plexus.
- EMG has been previously identified as a cause of CIPO.
Observation:
- A 14-year-old male presented with symptoms suggestive of CIPO without a clear obstructive cause.
- Extensive diagnostic workups were inconclusive in identifying the underlying pathology.
- Surgical exploratory laparoscopy was performed for diagnosis.
Findings:
- Pathology revealed Eosinophilic Myenteric Ganglionitis (EMG).
- The EMG case exhibited unique lymphocytic and eosinophilic cellular components.
- This specific presentation offers new insights into EMG's pathology.
Implications:
- This case expands the known spectrum of EMG presentations.
- It underscores the importance of considering EMG in pediatric CIPO cases.
- Further research into the unique cellular components of EMG is warranted.
Abstract:
Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare, severe, and often debilitating condition that can result in significant morbidity and mortality amongst the pediatric population. Eosinophilic myenteric ganglionitis (EMG) is a rare inflammatory neuropathy of the myenteric plexus with characteristic eosinophilic infiltration with and without hypogangliosis. The disorder has been previously documented as a cause of CIPO. We report the case of a 14-year-old male with no clear obstructive cause who, after multiple visits with a myriad of tests and workups, underwent surgical exploratory laparoscopy with the pathology returning a diagnosis of EMG with unique lymphocytic and eosinophilic cell components.
