Idiopathic adult intestinal intussusception: a rare cause of an acute surgical abdomen

Telescoping into Adulthood: A Case Report of Intussusception in an Adult Patient

Intussusception is a familiar diagnosis among the pediatric population; however, it is rarely considered among the adult population due to a myriad of life-threatening pathologies within the abdomen. We present an adult female who presented to the emergency department (ED) with abdominal pain and constipation. Laboratory testing and a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen were ordered. Laboratory test results were notable for an elevated lymphocyte count as well as leukocyte esterase, white blood cells (WBC), and bacteria seen on urinalysis. The computed tomography scan detected a colo-colic intussusception secondary to a benign mass within the bowel lumen. The mass was surgically resected and the patient had an uneventful postoperative course. This unique case represents the occurrence of a pathology to which the adult population is not immune, and therefore should not be overlooked when evaluating a non-specific case of abdominal pain.

Topics

Intussusception, colo-colic, obstruction, abdominal pain, constipation, female, mass, bowel, lymphocyte, ultrasound, computed tomography.

Intestinal Intussusception: A Shocking Diagnosis

Intussusception is a rare condition diagnosed in adults, with few cases reported as idiopathic. It is defined as the invagination of an intestinal segment into another adjacent one, due to the presence of a lead point, or in some cases, without identifiable causative lesions. The presentation is non-specific, even with careful evaluation, and most of the time, the diagnosis is made during surgery. We hereby present the case of a 73-year-old woman with idiopathic intussusception who presented in the emergency room. She was taken to the operating theatre, where intestinal resection was performed. Few cases of true idiopathic intestinal intussusception in adults are seen, and literature on this topic remains scarce. We discuss diagnostic and therapeutic options and do a brief review of the literature.

Adult Idiopathic Ileocolonic Intussusception: A Case Report

Abdominal pain is a common chief complaint seen in the emergency department (ED), both in adult and pediatric populations. In pediatric emergency medicine, one diagnosis that is often considered is intussusception; in adult emergency medicine, this is typically less common. The classic teaching in adults is that the most common cause of intussusception is malignancy. In the following case report, however, the etiology of intussusception was not from malignancy but rather idiopathic. This case report describes an elderly female presenting to the ED for abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and hematochezia. She underwent abdominal imaging with findings concerning for intussusception; this necessitated urgent operative intervention. She was found to have ileocolonic intussusception. Tissue biopsy was sent for analysis to evaluate for malignancy. This was negative. While emergency physicians often keep intussusception high on their list of differential diagnoses when dealing with pediatric patients with abdominal pain, it is rarely considered in the adult population. Abdominal pain is one of the most common chief complaints seen in emergency medicine. Intussusception should definitely be considered as this could be the etiology of abdominal pain and, in rare circumstances, the potential etiology for an acute abdomen.