Clinical impact of intestinal neuronal malformations: a prospective study in 141 patients

A prospective study of 141 consecutive patients with intestinal neuronal malformations is presented. The single malformation of the autonomic nervous system that always required surgical intervention was aganglionosis. Giant ganglia, reduced parasympathetic tone, immature ganglia, and hypogenetic or heterotopic nerve cells were seen in all forms of malformations. However, the incidence in specific malformations was variable. Multiple giant ganglia were identified in all patients with intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) type B, but also in various other malformations. Heterotopic nerve cells in the myenteric plexus were seen in the proximal segment of 15 of 74 patients (20.3%) with aganglionosis and 5 of 9 patients (55.6%) with hypoganglionosis. A significant impact on symptoms was found for IND type B: 34 (45.9%) of 74 children with aganglionosis had associated IND type B, and these children more frequently developed ileus (P < 0.001) and more often needed a second resection (P < 0.05) compared to those with isolated aganglionosis. This indicates an additive effect of both malformations, and therefore, in these patients an extended resection should be carried out. Twelve of 67 patients (17.9%) without aganglionosis needed resection for untreatable constipation. This included 7 of 9 children with hypoganglionosis, both patients with heterotopia of the myenteric plexus, 1 of 20 with isolated IND type B, and 2 of 12 with reduced parasympathetic tone. None of the patients with immaturity, heterotopia of the submucous plexus, or mild dysganglionosis required surgery. Six children (8.9%) without aganglionosis underwent sphincteromyotomy and 2 with IND type B had a temporary colostomy. At follow-up (mean 2.4 +/- 1.4 years), the outcome in patients with resected aganglionosis was better than in patients who had resections for other malformations; 49 (69%) of 71 patients with aganglionosis were asymptomatic compared to 4 (33.3%) of 12 with other malformations (P < 0.05). It is concluded that some intestinal malformations have a relevant clinical impact. However, the severity of symptoms in the individual patient may not be explained by specific histochemical findings from a limited number of mucosal biopsies. The pathognomonic histochemical criteria of isolated IND type B - immaturity, reduced parasympathetic tone, heterotopia of the submucous plexus, and mild dysganglionosis - rarely require surgical therapy and should be treated conservatively.