Colonic sphincters revisited: simulators of organic disease

Barium enema examinations establish the presence of neoplastic or inflammatory disease in the colon. Areas of narrowing commonly encountered appear to represent organic disease. These areas are in expected locations throughout the colon and have been described. Not much attention had been given to these areas in recent literature, however, which has led to unnecessary colonoscopies and even surgeries. The sphincters of Rossi, Balli, and Payr-Strauss are involved in nerve reflexes; the sphincters of Hirsch, Moultier, and Busi are a thickening of longitudinal and circular muscle fibers. Cannon's sphincter is an overlap of the superior and inferior mesenteric nerve plexuses. When an area of narrowing is encountered where a known sphincter is located, insufflation of more air, changing patient position, administering 2 mg of glucagon intramuscularly or 0.5 mg to 1 mg intravenously will aid in the distinction between a sphincter and organic disease.