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Updated: Jul 23, 2026

Murine Ileocolic Bowel Resection with Primary Anastomosis
Published on: October 29, 2014
Inverted Meckel's diverticulum masquerading Crohn disease in the small intestine.
C Henneberg Holmboe1, O Thorlacius-Ussing, P S Teglbjaerg
1Dept. of Medical Gastroenterology M, Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
A Meckel's diverticulum with ectopic gastric tissue caused intussusception, mimicking Crohn's disease. This case highlights a rare cause of prolonged intestinal obstruction misdiagnosed due to its atypical presentation.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Intussusception is a common cause of intestinal obstruction in children, but less frequent in adults.
- Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital anomaly of the small intestine.
- Ectopic gastric epithelium within a Meckel's diverticulum is a known, though uncommon, finding.
Observation:
- A case of ileoileal intussusception is presented.
- The intussusception was caused by a Meckel's diverticulum acting as the leading point.
- The Meckel's diverticulum contained ectopic gastric epithelium.
Findings:
- The intussusception presented with a protracted clinical course, unlike the typical acute or subacute presentation.
- The patient's condition was initially misdiagnosed as Crohn's disease.
- The ectopic gastric tissue within the Meckel's diverticulum was identified as the cause of the intussusception.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering Meckel's diverticulum in the differential diagnosis of adult intussusception, even with atypical presentations.
- Misdiagnosis as inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease, can delay appropriate surgical management.
- Recognizing rare causes of intussusception is crucial for timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment, preventing complications.
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