[A contribution to congenital segmental intestinal dilatation (author's transl)]

Segmental intestinal dilatation is rare and has so far been described for 26 patients only. The article presents three own observations. The clinical symptoms correspond to those of intestinal obstruction and are in most cases manifest in infancy and early childhood. The affected section of the intestine is dilated regionally to 3 to 4 times the normal value and can be situated both in the small intestine and in the colon. The intestinal wall is thickened or thinned; all intestinal wall layers are preserved and the ganglionic cells are regular. A characteristic feature is the histological finding of heterotopic tissue such as gastric mucosa and tissue of pancreas, lung or cartilage. The mesenterial veins are markedly congested. In 50% of all patients association with other malformations is seen.