Korean J Gastrointest Motil.  2002 Nov;8(2):191-196.

A Case of Idiopathic Megacolon Presented by Constipation

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ringer@hanafos.com
  • 2Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

The condition of an idiopathically dilated colon appears to be clinically heterogenous, very uncommon, and subsequently often poorly managed. Recently, one case of idiopathic megacolon presented by constipation was investigated. The patient was abruptly constipated 6 months prior to the hospital visit. The results of a barium enema and colonoscopy were nonspecific. On plain abdominal radiographs, the ascending and transverse colon were markedly dilated, and the descending colon was not visible. During the conservative management, which included laxative and prokinetic medication, the clinical symptoms and the colonic dilatations on plain radiographs were reduced, and discharged. After that however, repetitive admissions due to abdominal distension and constipation ensued, and therefore a total colectomy was performed in order to improve the patient's quality of life.

Keyword

constipation; idiopathic megacolon

MeSH Terms

Barium
Colectomy
Colon
Colon, Descending
Colon, Transverse
Colonoscopy
Constipation*
Dilatation
Enema
Humans
Megacolon*
Quality of Life
Barium
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