title: Meckel's diverticulum and ectopic epithelium: Evaluation of a complex relationship.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. Currently, for any incidentally discovered Meckel's diverticulum, the management approach is based on weighing the statistical odds of future complications against the risks of a diverticulectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The temporal relationship between age at Meckel's diverticulectomy and the presence of ectopic epithelium was evaluated in our series. A meta-analysis of all reported recent literature on this condition was subsequently performed to evaluate the strength of the relationship between ectopic epithelium and symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a paucity of ectopic epithelium in Meckel's diverticulectomy specimens in infants operated on at less than 1 year of age. Having two or more ectopic epithelia in a diverticulum does not appear to carry an additive risk for complications. The meta-analysis confirmed that ectopic epithelium was the most significant factor that influenced surgical intervention in all series of Meckel's diverticulum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relationship between ectopic epithelium and the development of symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum is complex. Further understanding of the development of ectopic rests in the diverticulum will facilitate elucidating the pathophysiology in symptomatic cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of New Jersey and Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, USA.
authors.forename: Sathyaprasad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burjonrappa
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Phue
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khaing
keywords: Ectopic epithelium; meckel's diverticulum; meta-analysis; surgical indications
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