Meconium ileus in classical cystic fibrosis (Q97274)

Meconium ileus is obstruction of the terminal ileum by abnormally tenacious meconium; it almost universally occurs in neonates with cystic fibrosis. Meconium ileus is almost always an early manifestation of cystic fibrosis, which causes GI secretions to be extremely viscid and adherent to the intestinal mucosa. These secretions are the presenting manifestation of cystic fibrosis in 10 to 25% of cases. Obstruction occurs at the level of the terminal ileum (unlike the colonic obstruction caused by meconium plug syndrome) and may be diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography.