Noniatrogenic neonatal gastric perforation: The role of interstitial cells of cajal

Samuel Noah Jactel, Carlos R. Abramowsky, Matthew Schniederjan, Megan M. Durham, Richard R. Ricketts, Matthew S. Clifton, Karl M. Langberg, Nancy Elawabdeh, Samir Pandya, Sarah Talebagha, Bahig M. Shehata

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Noniatrogenic neonatal gastric perforation is a rare and life-threatening condition whose etiology is often unclear. Interstitial cells of Cajal act as gastrointestinal pacemaker cells and express the proto-oncogene c-Kit. Six new cases were identified at our institution which presented with no mechanical, pharmacologic, or otherwise medical-related intervention prior to rupture. The number of interstitial cells of Cajal in nonnecrotic muscularis propria from five random high-power fields per specimen was compared using immunohistochemical stains for c-Kit. The authors show that a lack of interstitial cells of Cajal in the stomach musculature may be implicated in the development of noniatrogenic gastric perforation (p = 0.008). Further large-scale studies, including molecular and genetic analysis, may help to better understand this phenomenon.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)422-428
Number of pages7
JournalFetal and Pediatric Pathology
Volume32
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • C-Kit
  • CD117
  • Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC)
  • Neonatal gastric perforation (NGP)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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