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Inverted Meckel's diverticulum as a leading point for ileoileal intussusception in an adult: case report

M Dujardin1, B Op de Beeck, M Osteaux

  • 1Department of Radiology, AZ-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Jette, Belgium.

Abdominal Imaging
|August 13, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Intussusception caused by an inverted Meckel's diverticulum is rare. This case highlights the diagnostic utility of imaging in identifying this unusual cause of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Intussusception, a telescoping of one intestinal segment into another, is uncommon in adults.
  • Meckel's diverticulum, a congenital anomaly of the small intestine, can lead to various complications.
  • An inverted Meckel's diverticulum is a rare cause of intussusception.

Observation:

  • A 37-year-old male presented with anemia and melena, indicative of gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • The patient was diagnosed with an ileoileal intussusception.
  • An inverted Meckel's diverticulum was identified as the lead point of the intussusception.

Findings:

  • This is the first reported case where small bowel enema, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) collectively demonstrated an inverted Meckel's diverticulum causing intussusception.
  • Imaging findings correlated with the clinical presentation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering rare etiologies for adult intussusception.
  • Demonstrates the comprehensive diagnostic power of combined imaging modalities (small bowel enema, CT, MRI) in elucidating complex gastrointestinal pathologies.
  • Emphasizes the role of Meckel's diverticulum as a potential, albeit infrequent, cause of intussusception and bleeding in adults.

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