[Histochemical demonstration of acetylcholinesterase activity applied to the study of human biopsies. I. Rectal suction biopsy in the diagnosis of congenital megacolon]

Abstract

The application of the histochemical demonstration of AChE activity to the diagnosis of congenital megacolon (Hirschsprung's disease) is discussed, both from the point of view of the technical aspects as well as the interpretation of the results obtained, using the method of Karnovsky and Roots, as modified by El Badawi-Schenk, applied to rectal suction biopsy. The authors adhere to the original ideas of Meier-Ruge et al., that the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease can be done solely with the evaluation of the AChE positive parasympathetic network of the lamina propria, with the additional consideration of the submucosal plexus to include cases of hypoganglionar megacolon, where that plexus is clearly diminished. The use of phase contrast is also emphasized.