Hirshsprung's disease: pathomorphological diagnosis with clinical aspects

Abstract

Although the clinical diagnosis or exclusion of Hirschsprung's disease is a frequent task in pediatric practice, the final diagnosis is based on the histopathological conclusion of a rectal biopsy. However, ancillary diagnostic tests such as acetylcholinesterase histochemistry or immunohistochemistry are extremely useful in some cases. The differential histological diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease can be challenging, as other conditions can present with similar histological features. In this article, we consider the pathological features of Hirschsprung's disease, highlight the main pathohistological manifestations of this disease, as well as auxiliary methods of morphological diagnosis, which are important in solving particularly difficult cases of diagnostic search.