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Giant lipoma causing a colo-colonic intussusception

Fadi Abou-Nukta1, Jordan Gutweiler, Jamie Khaw

  • 1Department of Surgery, Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

The American Surgeon
|February 24, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Adult intussusception is rare and often caused by tumors. Giant colonic lipomas can lead to intussusception, requiring surgical removal for symptomatic relief.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Oncology

Background:

  • Intussusception is prevalent in children but rare in adults, where it typically has a clear underlying cause.
  • Colonic lipomas are common benign tumors, but giant lipomas are infrequent causes of intussusception.

Observation:

  • This case involves a giant colonic lipoma causing colocolonic intussusception.
  • Symptoms included abdominal pain and vomiting, with diarrhea being less common.
  • Computed tomography effectively diagnosed the lesion as a well-defined, low-attenuation mass within the colon.

Findings:

  • Giant colonic lipomas are an uncommon etiology for adult intussusception.
  • Surgical resection is the standard treatment for symptomatic lipomas.
  • Endoscopic resection carries a high risk of complications.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering giant colonic lipomas in adult intussusception diagnoses.
  • Emphasizes surgical resection as the preferred treatment modality.
  • Informs clinical decision-making regarding diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for colonic lipomas causing intussusception.

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