How Useful Is the Barium Enema in the Diagnosis of Infantile Hirschsprung's Disease?

The contrast enema for Hirschsprung disease: predictors of a false-positive result

“…The first option is the CE, and the classic finding on this test is the TZ [5,6]. The second option for the workup of HD is anorectal manometry, with absence of the rectoanal inhibitory reflex being suggestive of HD [7].…”

Diagnosis of Hirschsprung's Disease: A Prospective, Comparative Accuracy Study of Common Tests

“…1 Delayed passage of meconium by itself is not a good discriminative clinical symptom to differentiate between HD and functional constipation, because 30% to 40% of children with functional constipation and 30% to 35% of healthy pre-term infants have delayed meconium production. 9,10 In patients with delayed passage of meconium and other important clinical signs of HD such as vomiting and abdominal distension, however, rapid diagnostic tests are necessary. Severe intestinal obstruction leading to enterocolitis remains the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in HD.…”

Symptomatology, pathophysiology, diagnostic work-up, and treatment of Hirschsprung disease in infancy and childhood

“…In some cases, an abnormal mucosal pattern may be observed, indicating the presence of enterocolitis. However, in young children or in cases of total aganglionosis, the caliber change is more difficult to demonstrate [40,[45][46][47]. On the other hand, rectal enemas and even digital rectal examination may decompress the distended proximal *ZFHX1B encodes Smad-interacting protein-1 (SMADIP1 or SIP1), and PMX2b, paired mesoderm homeobox gene.…”