Hirschsprung Disease of the Adult Mimicked by Chronic Constipation or Vice Versa?

Abstract

Hirschsprung disease is a rare congenital disorder characterized by a functional obstruction of the distal bowel due to aganglionic bowel segments with impaired motility. It is a rare condition in the adult, and usually mimicked by a long standing history of constipation, requiring great astuteness to diagnose. We present a case with all the clinical and radiologic characteristics of adult Hirschsprung disease, which had a final diagnosis of chronic constipation in a mentally impaired individual.




J Med Cases. 2012;3(5):277-279
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/jmc731w