[Neonatal segmental small intestine dilatation. Unusual form of necrotizing enteritis?]

The authors report two new cases of segmental dilatation of the small bowel at birth. In the pathological intestinal areas, they describe inflammatory alterations similar to neonatal necrotizing enteritis, and some particular lesions of the myenteric plexus with a deterioration of the ganglionic cells. It is suggested that such lesions might have a certain responsibility in the etiology of chronic idiopathic pseudo-obstruction syndrome.