[Endoscopic study in the diagnosis of nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the colon in childhood].

Colonic lymphoid hyperplasia has been diagnosed in 10 children, aged from 11 months to 12 years, with heterogeneous clinical symptoms such as rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea and constipation. The Authors underline the value of endoscopy in the diagnosis of colonic lymphoid hyperplasia which also permitted to exclude other colonic diseases often misdiagnosed by double contrast barium enema (familial polyposis, lymphoid polyps, Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis). In This study the Authors discuss the probable etiopathogenetic mechanisms and the prognosis of colonic lymphoid hyperplasia: it should be considered as a benign conditions reflecting a non-specific response to different stimuli.