Colonic lipoma mimicking malignancy and presenting as an intussusception: A rare case report

Pedunculated colonic lipoma causing adult colo-colic intussusception: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Colo-colonic intussusception (CI) in adults is rare, usually caused by malignant conditions. Nonmalignant tumors, like colonic lipomas (CLs), can also be an underlying cause.

CASE REPORT

We report an unusual case of a 62-year-old man admitted to the emergency department with acute abdominal symptoms. The CT scan confirmed the colonic obstruction, causing significant distention in the transverse and right colon. It also revealed an intraluminal pedunculated colonic mass with fatty density. Peroperatively, a descending colon intussusception was noted. We performed a left colon resection with a double colostomy on the left flank. The postoperative follow-up was uneventful. Pathologic examination of the surgical specimen revealed two lipomas. One of them was pedunculated and protruded into the colonic lumen causing the intussusception.

DISCUSSION

We conducted a literature review of adult CLs complicated by CI, covering the period from January 1900 to June 2024, including 203 cases. We excluded lipomas exclusive to the small intestine and ileocecal valvula. Our analysis focused on the clinical and pathological characteristics of these cases, as well as the available management options.

CONCLUSION

Colonic intussusception due to lipomas are uncommon with a challenging preoperative diagnosis despite the evolution of imaging procedures. We aimed by our case to highlight such pathology and to study its features and the possibilities of its management.

A Colonic Lipoma Causing Obstruction: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Colonic lipomas are rare benign lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. They are asymptomatic in the majority of cases. This report aims to present a case involving a 65-year-old female patient reporting rectal bleeding, loss of appetite, and alteration in bowel habits. First, she was submitted to colonoscopy which revealed a sizable ulcerative polypoid lesion in the descending colon, displaying histological characteristics consistent with a hyperplastic polyp and devoid of malignancy indications. An abdominal computed tomography followed which showed diffuse thickening of the colonic wall in the descending colon, resulting in nearly complete luminal obstruction and also a submucosal lipoma measuring 2.6 centimeters at the same location. Laparoscopic intervention ensued, and following a conclusive intraoperative diagnosis of a submucosal lipoma via frozen biopsy, a successful laparoscopic segmental resection of the descending colon with primary anastomosis was executed. Additionally, a comprehensive review of contemporary literature is provided to enhance the understanding of the management approaches applied in analogous cases since established treatment guidelines for colonic lipomas are currently lacking.