GASTROINTESTINAL FINDINGS IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS

¹ From the Departments of Radiology and Pediatrics, Babies Hospital, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, New York

1. Cystic fibrosis is a generalized disease due to dysfunction of exocrine glands. Gastrointestinal manifestations may occur from in utero to adulthood.

2. Meconium ileus and secondary complications such as pseudocysts and atresias are the major causes of congenital intestinal obstruction.

3. Edema may be the presenting symptom due to hypoproteinemia. This may be secondary to malabsorption in the infant and due to cirrhosis in the older child.

4. Inspissated small bowel contents after the newborn period may act as a "leader" in intussusception, simulate acute appendicits, or cause intestinal obstruction ("meconium ileus equivalent").

5. The pathogenesis of a bizarre pattern in the small and large intestine, calcification of the pancreas and duodenal ulcers are less well understood than the other gastrointestinal findings presented.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?