Neuronal intestinal dysplasia.

Neuronal intestinal dysplasia (NID) is one of the disorders of gastrointestinal motility with defined pathological changes. Although first described more than 20 years ago, the disease remains controversial. The histological findings do not correlate with the degree of symptoms. The etiology of NID is obscure, but an immunologic process has been suggested. The diagnosis can be made on biopsy specimens performed to identify Hirschsprung's disease, but treatment must be individualized. The clinical course is variable, with spontaneous improvement in some, relentless constipation or severe dysmotility, unresponsiveness to all therapy, in others. Duhamel or Soave pull-through procedures can be effective in selected cases.