Surgical management of intussusception in the adult

Approach to management of intussusception in adults: a new paradigm in the computed tomography era

Intussusception has been considered an operative indication in adults as a result of the risk of ischemia and the possibility of a malignant lead point. Computed tomographic (CT) scans can reveal unsuspected intussusception. All CT reports from July 1999 to December 2005 were scanned electronically for letter strings to include the keyword intussusception. Identified CT scans were analyzed to characterize the intussusception and associated findings. Clinical, laboratory, pathological, and follow-up variables were gleaned from medical records. Findings were analyzed by treatment and findings at operation. Review of 380,999 CT reports yielded 170 (0.04%) adult patients (mean age, 41 years) with intussusceptions described as enteroenteric in 149 (87.6%), ileocecal in eight (4.7%), colocolonic in 10 (5.9%), and gastroenteric in three (1.8%). Radiological features included mean length of 4.4 cm (range, 0.8-20.5 cm) and diameter of 3.2 cm (range, 1.6-11.5 cm). Twenty-nine (17.1%) had a lead point, and 12 (7.1%) had bowel obstruction. Clinically, 88 (48.2%) patients reported abdominal pain, 52 (30.6%) had nausea and/or vomiting, and 74 (43.5%) had objective findings on abdominal examination. Thirty of 170 (17.6%) patients underwent operation, but only 15 (8.8%) patients had pathologic findings that correlated with CT findings. Seven had,enteroenteric intussusceptions from benign neoplasms (two), adhesions (one), local inflammation (one), previous anastomosis (one), Crohn's disease (one), and idiopathic (one). Three had ileocolic disease, including cecal cancer (one), metastatic melanoma (one) and idiopathic (one; whereas five patients had colocolonic intussusception from colon cancer (three), tubulovillous adenoma (one), and local inflammation (one). Of the 15 without intussusception at exploration, five had pathology related to trauma, four had nonincarcerated internal hernia after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, four had negative explorations, one had adhesions, and one had appendicitis that did not correlate with CT findings. No patient in the observation group required subsequent operative exploration for intussusception at mean 14.1 months (range, 0.25-67.5 months) follow up. All operative patients demonstrated gastrointestinal symptoms versus 55.3 per cent of the observation group (P < 0.006). Analysis of CT features demonstrated differences among patients observed without operation, those without intussusception at exploration, and confirmed intussusception with regard to mean intussusception length 3.8 versus 3.8 versus 9.6 cm, diameter 3.0 versus 3.2 versus 4.8 cm, lead point 12.1 per cent versus 30 per cent versus 53.3 per cent, and proximal obstruction 3.8 per cent versus 0 per cent versus 46.7 per cent, respectively. Intussusceptions in adults discovered by CT scanning do not always mandate exploration. Most cases can be treated expectantly despite the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Close follow up is recommended with imaging and/or endoscopic surveillance. Length and diameter of the intussusception, presence of a lead point, or bowel obstruction on CT are predictive of findings that warrant exploration.

Adult intussusception in Asians: clinical presentations, diagnosis, and treatment

BACKGROUND

Adult intussusception is a rare clinical entity. The presentations and optimal management of adult intussusception in Asians have seldom been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the causes and management of adult intussusception in Taiwan.

METHODS

A retrospective review performed at four medical centers in Taiwan identified 46 patients, at least 18 years old, with a diagnosis of intestinal intussusception from January 1992 to December 2005. Data related to presentations, diagnosis, treatment, and pathology were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were 28 men and 18 women with a mean age of 58 (range 19-83) years. Twenty-five patients were diagnosed with enteric intussusception and 21 patients with colonic intussusception. Disease in 35 (76.1%) patients was caused by a benign lead point. The most common symptom was abdominal pain, which was seen in all patients. Twenty-five patients presented with acute symptoms that they experienced over a period of less than 3 days. The preoperative diagnosis was 89.1% because of the wide use of abdominal computed tomography (CT). The most sensitive diagnostic modality was abdominal CT (88.6%). For all patients, 76% with enteric intussusception and 28.6% with colonic intussusception underwent operative reduction. At the time of writing, 71.7% patients were still alive. Only two patients died of postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with adult intussusception in our series were men, and most intussusceptions were benign and of enteric origin. The most sensitive diagnostic modality is abdominal CT scan. Operative reduction is recommended for enteric intussusceptions but not for colonic intussusceptions. The prognosis of adult intussusception after surgery is good except for malignant intussusception.

Clinical entity and treatment strategies for adult intussusceptions: 20 years' experience

PURPOSE

Intestinal intussusception in adults is rare and the optimal management of this problem remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the causes of intussusceptions in adults and to assess their treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients older than aged 18 years who were diagnosed with intestinal intussusception at Tri-Service General Hospital between July 1984 and July 2004 was conducted.

RESULTS

During the 20-year period, there were 292 patients with intussusception, 24 (8.2 percent) of which were adults. Abdominal pain was the most common presenting complaint (79.2 percent). The diagnosis of adult intussusception was made preoperatively in 18 cases (75 percent) and intraoperatively in 6 cases (25 percent). Of the 24 patients, 20 (83.3 percent) had a defined lesion; 11 (55 percent) lesions were benign and 9 (45 percent) were malignant. In eight patients (33.3 percent), the intussusception was reduced; perforation occurred in one patient (12.5 percent). Segmental resections were performed on 14 patients (58.3 percent), right hemicolectomies on 6 patients (25 percent), laparoscopic low anterior resection on 1 patient (4.2 percent), appendectomy on 1 patient (4.2 percent), and diverticulectomy on 1 patient (4.2 percent). Intraoperative colonoscopy was performed on three patients (12.5 percent) before reduction (lipomas were noted in 2 of the patients (66.7 percent) with limited resection of the ileum and preservation of the antireflux ileocecal valve. There was one perioperative mortality (4.2 percent) and seven postoperative morbidities (29.2 percent).

CONCLUSIONS

Adult intussusception is an unusual and challenging condition and is a preoperative diagnostic problem. We discuss our 20 years of experience in treatment strategies for dealing with such unusual problems.

Colorectal intussusception secondary to sigmoid carcinoma in an adult

Although intussusception is relatively common in children, it is clinically rare in adults A 54-year-old woman who presented with cramping abdominal pain and rectal bleeding was found to have sigmoid rectal intussusception secondary to adenomatous polyps of the sigmoid colon. Following confirmation of intussusception by CT scan, surgical resection was performed after manual reduction.

Intussusception in adults: report of four cases and review of the literature

Intussusception in adults is a rare clinical entity. The individual surgeon will not often encounter this condition. A lead-point for adult intussusception exists in 90% of cases and is frequently malignant. We present four cases and discuss treatment and diagnostic modalities. A comprehensive review of the literature is given. All cases were treated by resection according to oncologic principles without previous reduction. Histological examination showed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, lipoma, clear cell sarcoma and adenocarcinoma as the lead-points.

Transient small-bowel intussusceptions in adults: significance of ultrasonographic detection

AIM

To investigate the frequency, clinical significance, and outcome of small-bowel intussusceptions in adults detected using ultrasound in an outpatient setting.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In two different retrospective (January 2001 to April 2003) and prospective (May 2003 to June 2005) periods, 33 small-bowel intussusceptions were found in 32 patients (13 females; mean age: 38.1 years) with known or suspected intestinal disease. Patients underwent diagnostic work-up to assess any organic disease. Patients with self-limiting intussusception were submitted to clinical and ultrasonographic follow-up.

RESULTS

Of the 32 patients with small-bowel intussusception, 25 were identified in the prospective series of 4487 examinations (0.53%) and seven in the retrospective series of 5342 examinations (0.15%; p=0.002). Four patients had persistent and 28 self-limiting intussusceptions. Self-limiting intussusceptions were idiopathic in 11 patients (39%) or associated with organic diseases in 17 (Crohn's disease in 11 patients, celiac disease in three, ulcerative colitis in one patient, and previous surgery for cancer in two). Self-limiting intussusceptions were asymptomatic in 25% of patients.

CONCLUSION

Small-bowel intussusceptions in adults are not rare and are frequently self-limiting, idiopathic, or related to organic diseases, mainly Crohn's disease and coeliac disease.

Eosinophilic enteritis presenting as intussusception in adult

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is defined as a disorder that selectively affects the gastrointestinal tract with eosinophil-rich inflammation in the absence of any known causes for eosinophilia. The clinical manifestations vary according to the site of the eosinophilic infiltrated layer of the bowel wall. Eosinophilic enteritis presenting as intussusception in adult has not been previously reported in the literature. Especially, making the diagnosis of intussusception in adults is often difficult due to the variable clinical findings. In our case, the correct diagnosis of intussusception due to eosinophilic enteritis was arrived at rather easily based on the ultrasonography and endoscopic biopsy. The patient was treated with oral prednisolone at 30 mg/day for 7 days, and then the drug was tapered off for 2 months; we didn't perform surgery. He has been asymptomatic for about 1 year after discharge without disease recurrence.

Asymptomatic Intussusception of the Appendix Secondary to Endometriosis

This is a report of a 47-year-old woman with an asymptomatic clinical presentation of appendiceal intussusception secondary to endometriosis. Initially discovered during routine colonoscopy as a submucosal mass, it was ultimately diagnosed after surgical resection by pathology findings. The theories regarding the pathogenesis of appendiceal intussusception are reviewed and discussed here.

Intussuscepting Colon Cancer in a 20-Year-Old: Sonographic Findings

Adult intussusception is relatively rare, with only 5% to 16% of intussusceptions occurring in adults. The authors report a case of colocolic intussusception caused by an adenocarcinoma of the ascending colon in a 20-year-old female. The mass and the intussusception were diagnosed with sonography and abdominal computerized tomography. The patient went on to surgery, where the sonographic findings were confirmed. The patient was treated with hemicolectomy and adjuvant therapy.

Clinical spectrum and surgical approach of adult intussusceptions: a multicentric study

BACKGROUND

The preoperative diagnosis of adult intussusceptions (AIs) remains difficult, and the assessment of the radiological methods has been evaluated very little in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interest of the different imaging modalities for the preoperative diagnosis of AI and describe causes of AI.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients of 15 years and older with the postoperative diagnosis of intussusception from 1979 to 2004 were reviewed retrospectively for this multicentric study. Data concerning clinical considerations, morphological examinations, surgical procedure, histological conclusions, mortality rate and recurrence were analysed.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients with documented intussusception were included. The mean age was 51 years (15-93 years). The preoperative diagnosis of intussusception was made in 52% of the cases. The sensitivities of the different radiological methods were abdominal ultrasounds (35%), upper gastrointestinal barium study (33%), abdominal computed tomography (CT) (58%) and barium enema (73%). An organic lesion was identified in 95% of the cases. There was 29 enteric and 15 colonic (including appendicular) intussusceptions. Thirty-seven percent of the enteric lesions were malignant, and a bit less than 50% of them were metastatic melanomas. The benign enteric lesions were Meckel's diverticulum and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in half of the cases. Fifty-eight percent of the pure colonic lesions (excluding appendix) were malignant, and 85% of them were primary adenocarcinomas. The benign colonic lesions were lipomas in 80% of the cases. All patients, except one, had a surgical treatment, and 13 of them had a complete reduction of the intussusception before resection. The mortality rate was 16% and recurrence occurred in three patients; two of them had a Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

CONCLUSION

Intussusception rarely occurs in adults, but nearly half of their causes are malignant. The CT scan is a helpful examination for enteric intussusceptions whether barium enema seems to be the most performing method for colonic lesions. Surgery is the recommended treatment, with or without a primary reduction of the intussusception. During the surgical procedure, this reduction can lead to a more limited bowel resection.

Invaginations intestinales aiguës de l'adulte : analyse d'une série de 20 cas

AIM OF THE STUDY

To report our experience in the management of acute intestinal intussusceptions in adults.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective study of data of patients older than 15 years who were operated on for acute intestinal intussusceptions from January 1997 to December 2001.

RESULTS

Twelve of the patients were males and eight females with an average age of 41 years (range: 16-71). The clinical and radiological findings were suggestive of bowel obstruction (N = 14), peritonitis (N = 5) and appendicular abscess (N = 1). Correct preoperative diagnosis of acute intestinal intussusceptions was established in 6 cases. Type of intussusception was jejunojejunal (N = 1), ileo-ileal (N = 8), ileocolic (N = 1), ileocecocolic (N = 7) and colocolic (N = 3). Necrosis was found in the intussusceptum in 10 cases and a tumor on the lead point in 14 cases (5 benign lesions and 9 malignant ones). For intussusception involving the colon, all patients underwent en bloc resection with immediate anastomosis, while intussusception located on the small bowel were treated by surgical reduction (N = 1), en bloc resection (N = 8) with immediate (N = 7) or delayed (N = 1) anastomosis. The mortality rate was 15%.

CONCLUSION

In our experience, intussusceptions in adults is not an uncommon clinical entity but correct diagnosis is often established peroperatively. En bloc resection is recommended because of the frequency of neoplasms and bowel ischemia.

Adult intussusception: a retrospective review

PURPOSE

Whereas intussusception is relatively common in children, it is clinically rare in adults. The condition is usually secondary to a definable lesion. This study was designed to review adult intussusception, including presentation, diagnosis, and optimal treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 22 cases of intussusception occurring in individuals older than aged 18 years encountered at two university-affiliated hospitals in Winnipeg between 1989 and 2000. The 22 cases were divided to benign and malignant enteric, ileocolic, colonic lesions respectively. The diagnosis and treatment of each case were reviewed.

RESULTS

There were 22 cases of adult intussusception. Mean age was 57.1 years. Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting were the commonest symptoms. There were 14 enteric, 2 ileocolic, and 6 colonic intussusceptions. Eighty-six percent of adult intussusception was associated with a definable lesion. Twenty-nine percent of enteric lesions were malignant. All ileocolic lesions were malignant. Of colonic lesions, 33 percent were malignant and 67 percent were benign. All cases required surgical interventions except one.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult intussusception is a rare entity and requires a high index of suspicion. Our review supports that small-bowel intussusception should be reduced before resection if the underlying etiology is suspected to be benign or if the resection required without reduction is deemed to be massive. Large bowel should generally be resected without reduction because pathology is mostly malignant.

Double intussusceptions in the small intestine caused by metastatic renal cell carcinoma: report of a case

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) may metastasize to almost any organ, but it is unlikely to be a direct cause of intussusception. We report a case of double enteric intussusceptions caused by metastatic RCC in a 64-year-old man. The patient presented with intermittent abdominal pain and diarrhea 11 years after undergoing a radical nephrectomy. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed two enhanced masses with the "target" sign, suggesting enteric intussusceptions. We performed partial enterectomy, and histological examination confirmed that the tumors had originated from RCC. To our knowledge, this is the first report of metastases from RCC manifesting as synchronous intraluminal polypoid tumors serving as the lead points of two intussusceptions in the small intestine. Thus, the possibility of multiple tumor metastases in the small intestine, with or without intussusceptions, should be considered in patients with recurrent RCC.

Adult intussusception--need for en-bloc resection

BACKGROUND

Adult intussusception is an uncommon surgical presentation

AIMS

We report a case of adult intussusception, review the literature and discuss the optimal management.

METHODS

We describe a woman who presented with severe abdominal pain and a large supra-umbilical mass. Ileocolic intussception was confirmed on CT, and a laparotomy and en-bloc resection were carried out. Postoperatively she made an uneventful recovery.

CONCLUSION

Adult intussusception is a rare clinical presentation. En-bloc resection should be the surgical treatment of choice in the majority of cases due to the high percentage of malignant lead points.

Predictive factors of malignancy in adults with intussusception

INTRODUCTION

Adult intussusception is an unusual entity, and its etiology differs from that in pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience of 60 adult patients with intussusception and determine if there are any preoperative factors predictive of malignancy.

METHODS

The records of 60 adult patients (>18 years of age) with a diagnosis of intussusception surgically treated at Singapore General Hospital and Changi General Hospital between 1990 and 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. The intussusceptions were classified as enteric or colonic. Preoperative predictive factors of malignancy were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

There were 60 patients with a median age of 57.5 years (range 21-85 years). Altogether, 34 (56.7%) patients were male, and there were 31 enteric and 29 colonic intussusceptions. A lead point was identified in 54 patients (90%). A total of 22 (36.7%) patients presented with intestinal obstruction, and the correct preoperative diagnosis of intussusception was made in 31 patients (51.7%). Computed tomography was the most useful diagnostic modality, correctly identifying an intussusception in 24 of 30 patients. A malignant pathology was present in 8 of 31 (26%) enteric versus 20 of 29 (69%) colonic intussusceptions. Age (P=0.009), the presence of anemia (P<0.001), and the site of the intussusception (P=0.001) showed significant differences between the benign and malignant groups by univariate analyses. On multivariate analysis, intussusception in the colon (P=0.004) and the presence of anemia (P=0.001) were independent predictive factors of malignancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult intussusception is most commonly secondary to a pathologic lead point. The site of intussusception in the colon and the presence of anemia are independent preoperative predictors of malignancy. All colonic intussusceptions should be resected en bloc without reduction, whereas a more selective approach can be applied for enteric intussusceptions.

Sigmoidorectal intussusception of adenoma of sigmoid colon treated by laparoscopic anterior resection after sponge-on-the-stick-assisted manual reduction

We present herein a case report of sigmoidorectal intussusception as an unusual case of sigmoid adenomatous polyp. The patient was a 56-year-old man who suffered from rectal bleeding for one day. He initially visited his general practitioner and was diagnosed as having an intraluminal mass of 15 cm from the anal verge. Several hours after admission to our coloproctology clinic, he suddenly presented with lower abdominal cramping pain with rectal bleeding during his bowel preparation using polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution. An emergency colonoscopy revealed that the invaginated colon with polypoid mass was protruded to the lower rectum. Gastrograffin enema showed that the invaginated bowel segment was 3 cm from the anal verge. CT scan showed the typical finding of intussusception. We performed laparoscopic anterior resection and anastomosis after the sponge-on-the-stick-assisted manual reduction. The permanent pathologic finding showed villotubular adenoma of the sigmoid colon.

Ileocecal intussusception in an adult: the laparoscopic approach

Adult intussusception is uncommon and requires a surgical approach. Malignancy is associated with 31% (43/137) of small bowel intussusception and 70% (74/106) of large bowel intussusception. Computerized tomography (CT) findings are pathognomonic for this condition. Often, the patient presents with long-standing, nonspecific complaints. A 63-year-old man presented with sudden onset of abdominal pain. CT demonstrated colonic inflammation. A laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for ileocecal intussusception was performed. The pathology report revealed a lipoma of the cecum. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged the fifth postoperative day. Despite a high incidence of malignancy, colonic or ileocecal intussusception can be successfully treated by laparoscopic resection. Review of the literature and treatment options are discussed.

Intussusception in adults: an unusual and challenging condition for surgeons

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Intestinal intussusception in adults is a rare entity and there is an ongoing controversy regarding the optimal management of this problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the causes and management of intussusception in adults.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of patients more than 18 years of age with a diagnosis of intestinal intussusception between January 1996 and December 2003 was conducted. Data related to presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and pathology were analyzed.

FINDINGS

A total of 13 patients were operated on due to intestinal intussusception. There were 6 men and 7 women with a mean age of 45 years (range 24--61 years). Abdominal pain was the most common presenting complaint (100%). Eight (61.5%) patients presented with acute symptoms and underwent emergency laparotomy. The diagnosis of gastrointestinal intussusception was made preoperatively only in 4 (30.7%) patients by abdominal ultrasonography and computerized tomography. The lead point of intussusception was located in the small intestine in 10 (76.9%) patients, in the colon in 2 (15.4%), and in the ileocecal valve in 1 (7.7%). A pathologic cause for the intussusception was identified in 12 (92.3%) cases and 1 (7.7%) was idiopathic. Of the cases with a defined cause, 58% of the cases were benign and 42% were malignant. Forty percent of cases of small bowel intussusception and 33.3% of cases of colonic intussusception were due to malignant lesions. All cases of small intestinal intussusception were reduced and no perforation occurred. Segmental intestinal resection was performed in 9 patients and excision of the Meckel's diverticulum was made in 1. In cases of colonic intussusception, reduction was not attempted and en-bloc resection was carried out. No perforation or spillage of the contents of the intussusception was observed. There was no surgical mortality.

CONCLUSION

Adult intussusception is an unusual and challenging condition that represents a preoperative diagnostic difficulty. We think that colonic intussusceptions should be resected in an en-bloc manner without reduction due to the risk of perforation and spillage of micro-organisms and malignant cells, whereas cases of small intestinal intussusception can be reduced without complications unless there is strangulation.

Adult intussusception: case reports and review of literature

Adult intussusception occurs infrequently and differs from childhood intussusception in its presentation, aetiology, and treatment. Diagnosis can be delayed because of its longstanding, intermittent, and non-specific symptoms and most cases are diagnosed at emergency laparotomy. With more frequent use of computed tomography in the evaluation of patients with abdominal pain, the condition can be diagnosed more reliably. Treatment entails simple bowel resection in most cases. Reduction of the intussusception before resection is controversial, but there is a shift against this, especially in colonic cases. Surgical treatment can be difficult in gastroduodenal and coloanal intussusceptions, sometimes requiring innovative techniques. This paper presents the diagnosis and management of four cases of adult intussusception, followed by review of the literature.

The 'wandering' abdominal lump: intussusception up to splenic flexure of an ileocaecal adenocarcinoma

A63-year old woman presented with a 4-day history of watery diarrhoea that was preceded by acute constipation. This was associated with intermittent colicky abdominal pain and one episode of fresh rectal bleeding on the previous day. Past history included haemorrhoids, cholecystectomy and reflux disease with no significant family history of cancer. She was seen in the accident and emergency department with a mass in right iliac fossa (RIF), which was managed as scabylous mass owing to the history of constipation.

The next day, the woman came back with continued symptoms. On this occasion, she had a firm, mobile mass, now palpable in the left hypochondrium associated with abdominal distension. Rectal examination revealed an empty rectum. Haematological and biochemical tests including tumour markers were essentially normal. Plain X-ray of the abdomen revealed a partial small bowel obstruction and the patient was commenced on conservative management.

The following day, although her symptoms resolved, the mobile abdominal mass was still persistent but now palpable in the RIF. An ultrasound examination of the abdomen and pelvis showed ‘a pseudo-kidney’ sign in the RIF (Figure 1). An unprepared contrast enema revealed a possible neoplastic lesion at the splenic flexure (Figure 2). Helical computed tomography showed a ‘bowel within bowel’ appearance in the left hypochondrium with proximally-dilated small bowel loops (Figure 3).

She underwent a laparotomy, which showed a mobile, ileocaecal tumour with intussusception reaching the splenic flexure. There was no evidence of disseminated disease. An extended right hemicolectomy with en-bloc resection of the intussuscepting mass was performed. She had an uneventful postoperative period.

Pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed a 4.0 cm × 4.5 cm × 3.0 cm nodular tumour of the ileocaecal valve with intussusception of a 6.0 cm length of terminal ileum. Histological examination showed a moderately well differentiated adenocarcinoma with clear resection margins (Figure 4). There was no nodal or vascular invasion. Pathological staging of the tumour was Dukes' A, T2 (tumor confined to bowel wall), N0 (no tumor deposit in 11 lymph node harvested) (0/11), M0 (no distance metastasis).

Intussusception Secondary to Metastasis from a Low-Grade Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma

Liposarcomas are the most prevalent soft tissue sarcomas in adults. Low-grade liposarcomas are the most frequent and least aggressive and are noted as having a low risk of metastasis. We present a case of low-grade myxoid liposarcoma that metastasized to the small bowel resulting in intussusception. This case involves a 44-year-old woman with a recurrent retroperitoneal liposarcoma. Approximately 30 months after initial diagnosis, the patient was found to have a solitary metastasis to the small bowel that presented as a jejunal intussusception. Interestingly, there was no indication of a round cell component in either the metastasis or recurrent tumor, although the original tumor did contain a small round cell component. This is the first report in the English literature of liposarcoma metastasizing to the small bowel. We suggest that atypical presentations of liposarcoma metastases should always be considered in the management of patients with a history of liposarcoma.

Proximal small bowel intussusceptions in adults: CT appearance and clinical significance

BACKGROUND

According to the clinical literature, intestinal intussusception in adults is rare, is associated with a pathologic lead point, and is usually treated surgically. Nonobstructing small bowel intussusception has been reported as a transient finding on computed tomographic (CT) studies.

METHODS

We evaluated the radiographic and clinical findings in 24 patients who were found to have 26 proximal small bowel intussusceptions on abdominal CT scans performed for a variety of indications.

RESULTS

Twenty patients with intussusceptions had no evidence of small bowel obstruction. The transient and clinically insignificant nature of 22 intussusceptions in these 20 patients was proven radiologically (n = 14), surgically (n = 1), or by clinical follow-up (n = 7). These patients demonstrated a bowel-within-bowel pattern on multiple contiguous images and absence of strangulation or intestinal dilatation. No lead points were demonstrated in these patients. Three other patients had symptoms of low-grade small bowel obstruction and were treated conservatively. Extensive follow-up investigations showed no recurrence of intussusception or a lead point. One patient had high-grade obstructive intussusception with intestinal ischemia and required surgical resection of necrotic bowel.

CONCLUSIONS

Proximal small bowel intussusceptions are likely to be transient and nonobstructive and unlikely to have a significant lead point.

Occult gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain due to entero-enteric intussusception caused by splenosis

Intussusception is rare in adults. We report the first known case of adult intussusception caused by splenosis. The patient had chronic gastrointestinal bleeding and intermittent abdominal pain. The diagnosis of entero-enteric intussusception was made by CT scan. A laparoscopic-assisted small bowel resection was performed, leading to resolution of the symptoms.

CT findings of intussusception in adults

Intussusception is rare in adults, in contrast to its frequent occurrence in infants. The clinical presentation is variable, consisting mainly of abdominal pain that may be chronic, intermittent, or acute. The classic triad of nausea and vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and an abdominal mass typically present in children with intussusception does not usually appear in adults. This diagnosis is, therefore, rarely included in the differential diagnosis of adult patients with vague abdominal complaints. However, with increasing use of CT scanning in the evaluation of patients with abdominal pain, the diagnosis of intussusception can be readily suggested by the radiologist because of its virtually pathognomonic appearance on CT.

[Diagnostics and surgical therapy of enteric intussusception in adults illustrated by three cases]

The diagnosis of enteric intussusception is rare in adults but not in children. The clinical picture often takes an insidious course. Acute abdomen may also be caused by enteric intussusception. We report on three patients with enteric intussusception and acute abdomen. In two cases, a CT led to the diagnosis of invagination of the small intestine. In one patient, invagination of the terminal ileum was detected during coloscopy. All patients were submitted to limited segment resection and end-to-end anastomosis. In all three cases, the invagination was caused by benign pathological changes. Enteric intussusception in adults always requires surgery. In more than 95% of the cases, pathological findings are obtained intraoperatively, which are benign in the small intestine in 85-95% of the cases.

Adult intussusception: diagnosis and clinical relevance

Intussusception is relatively rare in the adult population and differs substantially from pediatric intussusception. Most adult intussusceptions identified at surgery are caused by a definable structural lesion, a substantial proportion of which are malignant, particularly in the colon. Small bowel intussusceptions, however, have a lower prevalence of malignancy. Diagnosis of adult intussusception can be made reliably with noninvasive imaging techniques. CT is now widely regarded as the modality of choice for diagnosing intussusception in adults, but ultrasound and MR imaging have also been used effectively. Determination of the presence of a malignant lead point remains problematic because an edematous or hemorrhagic intussuscipiens may mimic a mass on each modality. Markers for bowel viability have been described but are not precise. Treatment of the persistent symptomatic intussusception in which neoplasia is suspected is surgical, and preoperative reduction is contraindicated. Transient relatively asymptomatic enteric intussusceptions discovered by imaging may not require intervention.

Antiperistaltic (Retrograde) Intussusception after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Adult intussusception has been described after various types of gastrointestinal surgery. In some instances there may be intussusception of the jejunum into the stomach via a gastrointestinal stoma, a rare complication known as jejunogastric intussusception (JGI). We present a retrospective review of two cases of retrograde intussusception occurring years after open Roux- en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for morbid obesity. To our knowledge there have been no documented reports of JGI occurring after RYGB and only scattered reports of JGI after Roux-en-Y reconstruction in general. Two reports of intussusception following RYGB were identified in the English literature and comprised three patients, only one of whom suffered a retrograde intussusception. As the number of RYGB procedures continues to rise, we will likely see more of this entity; and it is therefore crucial that surgeons consider acute and chronic intussusception as a cause of abdominal pain in patients who have undergone RYGB.

Adult intussusception: experience in Singapore

INTRODUCTION

Gastrointestinal intussusception is an uncommon clinical entity in adults and is interestingly distinct from its paediatric form. In adults an identifiable lead lesion is found in the majority of cases, of which a significant percentage are malignant. Its treatment is thus different from that of paediatric intussusception. The present study reviews our experience of treating adult intussusception.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with a postoperative diagnosis of gastrointestinal intussusception between January 1997 and December 2002 was conducted. All patients under the age of 18 and cases of rectal prolapse were excluded.

RESULTS

During the 5-year period, there were nine cases of intussusception. There were four male and five female patients, with a mean age of 63.8 years (range 37-85 years). Less than half of the patients (44.4%) presented with acute symptoms. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain and distension. The symptoms were intermittent in 77.8% (7 of 9) of patients. Only two patients had a palpable abdominal mass, while another had signs of acute intestinal obstruction. Computed tomography was the most useful imaging modality, identifying intussusception in six out of six patients. Eight patients had lead lesions occurring at the ileocaecal junction resulting in ileo-colonic intussusception. Of these eight, four were malignant (two adenocarcinomas and two lymphomas). There was one sigmoid-rectal intussusception secondary to adenocarcinoma. All patients were treated operatively. Seven patients were treated with en bloc resection.

CONCLUSION

Although uncommon, surgeons need to be aware of the epidemiology and treatment options for adult intussusception. The symptoms and signs are often non-specific and the surgeon might be faced with the diagnosis only at laparotomy. Computed tomography is the most useful imaging modality. An identifiable organic lesion is present in most cases, of which more than 50% are malignant (especially in the large bowel). Operative treatment is thus prudent. En bloc resection is recommended for ileo-colonic and colo-colonic intussusception. There is, however, a role of initial reduction in selected patients with ileo-ileal intussusception.

Bowel obstruction and pseudo-obstruction

The gastroenterologist is frequently involved in the care of patients with bowel obstruction and pseudo-obstruction. In the case of obstruction, the central problem is determining which patients should be managed surgically. In both SBO and LBO, evidence of vascular compromise to the gut mandates surgical intervention. Most patients with pseudo-obstruction respond to conservative therapy or neostigmine. Endoscopic decompression is indicated in recalcitrant cases, with surgery reserved as a last resort.

Laparoscopic treatment of intestinal intussusception in the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: case report and review of the literature

The hamartomatous polyps of Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome (PJS) can cause repeated episodes of rectal bleeding and intestinal subocclusion. Laparoscopic treatment of intussusception is rarely reported and must be considered for this clinical condition. We described a 35-year-old male with PJS who presented with rectal bleeding and abdominal pain. One duodenal polyp and two others in the jejunum, which caused intussusception, were visualized on preoperative investigation. Polyps were identified by laparoscopy and removed extracorporeally through enterotomies. All lesions were hamartomas. The patient was discharged on the third postoperative day and has been asymptomatic for more than 2 years. Laparoscopy allows an adequate access to explore and treat small bowel polyps and avoid the classic laparotomy.

Distinguishing features of self-limiting adult small-bowel intussusception identified at CT

PURPOSE

To determine if clinical or computed tomographic (CT) findings can be used to distinguish self-limiting cases of adult small-bowel intussusception from those requiring surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-seven cases of adult small-bowel intussusception were identified by a retrospective computerized search of 69,040 abdominopelvic CT examinations performed over a 4-year period. Two independent readers recorded CT features. Clinical findings and outcomes were determined by review of all available medical records. Outcome was classified as either surgical or self-limiting. Association between predictive variables and outcome was assessed by the Fisher exact test and logistic regression models. A multivariate, stepwise, logistic regression model was used to determine the best predictors of outcome.

RESULTS

Six patients (16%) underwent surgery, and all had lead-point tumors. Thirty-one patients were cared for conservatively (84%) and none required surgery at a mean follow-up of 5.2 months (range, 0-46 months). Multivariate, stepwise, logistic regression analysis showed intussusception length was the only variable that was independently predictive of outcome. All 20 patients with an intussusception length of 3.5 cm or less, as measured by either reader, had cases that were self-limiting. Seventeen patients had an intussusception length greater than 3.5 cm, as measured by either reader. Eleven patients had an intussusception that was self-limiting, and six patients had an intussusception that required surgery.

CONCLUSION

Intussusception length is the main factor in distinguishing the majority of small-bowel intussusceptions detected at CT that are self-limiting from the minority that require surgery. An intussusception that is shorter than 3.5 cm is likely to be self-limiting.

Adult intussuception as a cause of abdominal symptoms: a case report and review of literature

Intussusceptions are frequently encountered in children. In adults, they are uncommon and have a different etiology. Our case is one such example of a rare, pathologically proven, recto-rectal intussusception due to an adenocarcinoma with characteristic CT findings.

Adult intussusception due to inverted Meckel's diverticulum: laparoscopic approach

Nowadays, laparoscopy appears to be an attractive alternative to conventional surgery in the management of small bowel obstruction. Adult intussusception is an unusual cause of intestinal obstruction, and a wide range of pathologic conditions can result with intussusception. In this report, we present a very rare case of intussusception secondary to inverted Meckel's diverticulum in an adult who underwent laparoscopic surgery. The diagnostic modalities and surgical management of intussusception are discussed.

The diagnosis and treatment of adult intussusception

BACKGROUND

Intussusception in adults is often diagnosed on computed tomography (CT), and the optimal treatment of this entity is not universally agreed upon. We report our experience in an attempt to clarify the usefulness of CT scan and the optimal treatment of this entity.

STUDY

Seven cases of adult intussusception were encountered at our institute between 1991 and 2001. Data related to presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and pathology were analyzed.

RESULTS

Preoperative diagnosis was made in four patients by CT scan and/or ultrasonography. Two patients had colonic cancer and one had jejunal cancer. Three of four patients with small bowel intussusception underwent reduction before resection and the other one underwent resection without reduction because of severe ischemic bowel.

CONCLUSIONS

The CT scan is most useful in making the diagnosis of intussusception. Colonic lesions should be resected without reduction. Small bowel lesions should be reduced only in patients in whom a benign diagnosis has been strongly suggested preoperatively or in patients in whom resection may result in short gut syndrome.

[CT scan diagnosis of colo-colic intussusception due to a lipoma of the left colon]

We report the case of a 27 years-old man with a left colo-colic intussuception due to a lipoma. CT scan allowed diagnosis of the obstruction, of the intussuception and showed his cause as an intraluminal fatty mass in the left colic angle, typical of lipoma. Resection of the mass was performed and mature fat cells were identified microscopically.

Unenhanced CT findings of vascular compromise in association with intussusceptions in adults

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate unenhanced CT findings for predicting the degree of vascular compromise in intussusception observed at surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The imaging studies, clinical records, and surgical and pathologic findings in 25 patients with intussusception were reviewed retrospectively. We evaluated six CT findings based on the abnormalities of each component of intussusception. Presence or absence of these findings was compared with the degree of vascular compromise as observed on pathologic examination, such as edema, ischemia, or necrosis.

RESULTS

The hypodense layer was observed in 16 of 18 intussusceptions with various degrees of vascular compromise. A fluid collection surrounded by the returning wall, which was revealed to correspond to trapped peritoneal fluid, was observed in eight of nine intussusceptions with ischemia or necrosis. A gas collection surrounded by the returning wall was observed in two of four intussusceptions with necrosis. Free peritoneal fluid coexisted with a fluid collection surrounded by the returning wall in all the intussusceptions except one. Bowel obstruction was observed in six of nine intussusceptions with ischemia or necrosis. The maximum wall thickness was not related to the degree of vascular compromise.

CONCLUSION

The CT findings of a hypodense layer in the returning wall, fluid collection in the space surrounded by the returning wall, and gas collection in the space surrounded by the returning wall can be useful in predicting the degree of vascular compromise in intussusception.