[Acetylcholinesterase activity in suction rectal biopsies. An appraisal of its value in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease (author's transl)].

Demonstration of an increase in Acetylcholinesterase activity within the terminal nerves of the aganglionic segment in Hirschsprung's disease can provide a useful additional criterion to the diagnosis of this disease. The value as well as the limitations of this histochemical investigation, when performed on superficial suction biopsies, is evaluated. 135 rectal biopsies taken from 123 children were studied. In 28 biopsies performed on children with Hirschsprung's disease, the correct diagnosis was established in 19 cases suggested in 5 and missed in 2. Conversely in 107 control specimens, the results of the histochemical method were correctly negative on 97 occasions and falsely positive on 2.