NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry

Abstract

The introduction of rectal suction biopsy, while making the procedure less traumatic for the patient, has made the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) more difficult for the pathologist. Many histopathologists are reluctant to make a positive diagnosis of HD on the basis of suction rectal biopsy results, using conventional H&E stains. This reluctance stems from doubt as to the amount of submucosa that must be scanned before the absence of ganglion cells can be confirmed, as well as the relative difficulty in accurately identifying smaller and sparse submucosal ganglion cells by comparison with the more compact and familiar ganglion cells of the intermuscular plexus. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.