Intracolonic formation of struvite crystals in a patient with congenital megacolon

Abstract

Intracolonic formation of large crystals and their subsequent rectal passage with hematochezia has not been previously described. We report the case of a patient with Hirschsprung's disease with a long history of anemia and passing crystals in his stool. These crystals were shown, by x-ray diffraction analysis, to be pure struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate). It is likely that their sharp edges caused rectal bleeding and profound iron-deficiency anemia in this patient.