[Diagnosis of megacolon in the neonatal period]

The importance of diagnosis in megacolon is underscored and an account is given of its radiological and histochemical aspects. If correctly performed, radiological examination enables the condition to be recognised. This was always the case in a personal series of 17 cases. Histochemical examination according to Meyer-Ruge is also useful. This is a simple method and demands minimal withdrawals from the submucosa. The findings are also more readily interpreted than those offered by conventional histological examination. Stress is laid on the possibility of false negatives in the newborn as described in the recent literature.