ABSTRACT
Apart from irritable bowel syndrome, in which abdominal pain is the predominant symptom and biopsy histology is normal (MacIntosh et al., 1992), patients with motility disorders present with a variety of manifestations, but the most frequent symptom is ‘constipation’. Biopsy plays a part in the investigation of constipation in patients of all ages, but particularly in young babies and children. It is important to remember that a histological abnormality can be demonstrated in only a proportion of these cases (Barnes et al., 1986). The abnormalities which may be present can be considered as either congenital (neuronal dysplasias) or acquired. Congenital abnormalities tend to present in early life, often displaying diagnostic morphological features. Acquired abnormalities often have little to show histologically and can be subdivided clinically into pseudo-obstruction and acquired megacolon.
