Colonic neuronal dysplasia

A child with colonic neuronal dysplasia is reported in whom the whole length of the colon was involved. Multiple colonoscopic mucosal biopsies with acetylcholinesterase staining provided a useful means of assessing the extent of the lesion. Colectomy has, so far, been resisted in view of the relatively mild symptoms in a child who is otherwise thriving. The neonatal necrotising enterocolitis in this case is probably related pathogenetically to that sometimes seen in Hirschsprung's disease. Greater awareness of this condition and the more frequent use of acetylcholinesterase staining of rectal biopsy tissue will probably uncover more cases.