title: Toxic idiopathic megacolon: fatal outcome in a mentally retarded adolescent.
abstract: The case of an 18-year-old mentally retarded boy who had long standing idiopathic megacolon and pica is presented. Acute toxic dilatation of the colon complicating pseudomembranous colitis developed, with a rapidly fatal outcome. No similar case of relatively benign idiopathic megacolon complicated by pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon has been reported. The pathophysiology of this rare combination is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008532:Megacolon, Toxic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010842:Pica / Q000150:complications; D011859:Radiography