Intestinal atresia or stenosis in the newborn associated with fibrocystic disease of the pancreas.

In a review of cases of intestinal atresia or stenosis in the newborn at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles it was noted that in approximately 10 per cent there was clinical or anatomic evidence of fibrocystic disease of the pancreas. Histologic sections of the bowel in all these cases showed the alterations of the mucosa commonly found in fibrocystic disease. Extensive ulceration, foreign body reaction and calcium deposition in the bowel wall were observed in five cases. Sections through the site of obstruction in one patient showed narrowing of the diameter of the bowel with preservation of muscular layers, but replacement of the central portion by a vascular, fibrous diaphragm in which giant cells, hemosiderin and calcium were prominent. This suggested that in certain instances obstruction of the intestine may be caused by fibrosis secondary to injury of the mucosa by abnormal meconium. Awareness of the common association of intestinal obstruction and fibrocystic disease of the pancreas and recognition of the histologic change in the bowel in fibrocystic disease may lead to early diagnosis of this disorder in some infants with intestinal obstruction.