Lymphoid hyperplasia of the bowel and its surgical significance in children.

Twelve children with abdominal complaints had lymphoid hyperplasia of the bowel presenting in an acute or chronic form. The etiology is obscure. An infectious process is thought to precipitate the acute form of the disease. Parasites were identified in two patients with the chronic disease. The acute form, with involvement of the appendix or terminal ileum, presents commonly as acute appendicitis. Because of its self-limiting nature, appendectomy with perservation of the terminal ileum is appropriate. When intussusception is present, resection of the ileum is advisable. The chronic form, which is also common in the terminal ileum, produces disabling symptoms, recurrent intussusception, chronic anemia, and weight loss and is, therefore, amenable to surgical resection.