Megacolon
Classification according to ICD-10 | |
---|---|
Q43.1 | Hirschsprung Disease - Aganglionosis - Megacolon congenitum (aganglionic) |
B57.3 | Chagas disease (chronic) involving the digestive system |
K59.3 | Megacolon, not elsewhere classified |
ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019) |
A megacolon or megacolon (from ancient Greek μέγας mégas "large", and Latin colon " large intestine , colon ") is a dilation of the large intestine associated with chronic constipation .
A distinction is made between the primary form, congenital Hirschsprung's disease ( Megacolon congenitum , Hirschsprung's disease ), from the secondary forms, which are caused, for example, by Chagas disease or ulcerative colitis . The toxic megacolon is a rare but life-threatening special form .