Retrospective study of Hirschsprung's disease in Erbil city/Iraq during 2004–2016

• Main Authors: Suhel Mawlud Alnajjar, Jawhar Tahir Omer, Salah Abubakir Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
• Series: Medical Journal of Babylon
• Subjects: ganglion cells; hirschsprung's disease; neural plexuses; resected segments
• Online Access: http://www.medjbabylon.org/article.asp?issn=1812-156X;year=2020;volume=17;issue=2;spage=177;epage=180;aulast=Alnajjar

Background: Hirschsprung's disease is caused by the failure of ganglion cells to migrate cephalocaudal through the neural crest during 4–12 weeks of gestation, causing an absence of ganglion cells in all or part of the colon. Most patients present in infancy, and the early diagnosis is important to avoid complications. With proper treatment, most patients live normal adult live. Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the incidence and severity of Hirschsprung's disease in our location (Erbil city/Iraq). Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, we collected 150 cases that referred to our private laboratory in Erbil city from January 2004 to December 2016. A total of 108 cases were studied grossly and histopathologically stained by H and E in addition to Phosphotungstic acid-haematoxylin stain (PTAH) special stain for ganglion cells and neural plexuses. Results: The results found that Hirschsprung's disease was more common in males than females (male gender 52% and female 48%). The majority of cases were below the age of 1 year (48% of cases). The resected segment is 21–30 cm in about 46% of cases. Regarding the narrowing segment is about 5 cm in most cases (56% of cases). Finally, the number of neural plexuses in the whole narrow segment was five neural plexuses in the majority of cases (found in 24 cases [23%]). Conclusions: Hirschsprung's disease is a common disease in this locality (Erbil city/Iraq). All constipated newborn babies should be examined to exclude HD.