Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
5979310 
Journal Article 
Acetylcholinesterase-stained suction rectal biopsies in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease 
Schofield, DE; Devine, W; Yunis, EJ 
1990 
Yes 
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
ISSN: 0277-2116
EISSN: 1536-4801 
11 
2 
221-228 
English 
1697618 
Conflicting reports in the literature regarding the sensitivity and specificity of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) stain in establishing or excluding the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) prompted this review of 497 rectal biopsies performed on 455 children. Using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to stain formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections is our preferred method of identifying ganglion cells. In this series, however, there were eight children with HD, and nine without HD in whom the AChE-stained portion of the sample provided invaluable diagnostic information not obtained from the concomitant, formalin-fixed, H&E-stained portion of the sample. The AChE stain also provided at least suggestive evidence of HD in some of the anal or anorectal biopsy specimens.