Adult intussusception secondary to inflammatory polyps

Adult intussusception is a rare entity that may present in the acute and subacute setting principally related to the degree of bowel obstruction. Preoperative diagnosis of this condition may be difficult. The intussusception is usually due to a definable intraluminal lesion, most probably neoplasia, unlike intussusception in children. We present the cases of two adult male patients with intussusception. The first presented with acute small-bowel obstruction secondary to a retrograde ileojejunal intussusception with a pseudopolyp as the lead point. This was possibly due to a retrograde ball-valve effect. The intussuscepting segment was resected. The second patient presented with unexplained chronic diarrhoea and an intussusception occurring within the caecum, as demonstrated at colonoscopy, with a terminal ileal pedunculated fibroid polyp as the lead point. A limited right hemicolectomy was performed. Both patients recovered uneventfully and have remained well. A brief literature review of adult intussusception complements the case reports, with an emphasis on the pathogenesis of inflammatory polyps and recommended surgical management.