Intussusception of the small bowel discovered incidentally by computed tomography

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Gastroenterology
• Abdominal Imaging

Background:

• Intussusception is a common pediatric condition, typically transient and without clinical significance.
• Adult intussusception is less common and often associated with underlying pathology.

Observation:

• Three cases of asymptomatic adult intussusception were incidentally discovered during abdominal CT scans.
• The incidental finding of intussusception in adults is increasingly recognized.
• Advanced multislice CT scanners with reformatting capabilities may contribute to this increased observation.

Findings:

• Asymptomatic intussusception can be incidentally detected in adults via CT scans.
• The incidence of incidentally found intussusception in adults appears to be rising.
• This contrasts with the generally benign and transient nature of intussusception in pediatric populations.

Implications:

• Increased detection of asymptomatic intussusception in adults warrants further investigation into its significance.
• The role of advanced CT imaging in identifying subtle abdominal conditions is highlighted.
• Further research is needed to understand the clinical implications and management of incidentally discovered adult intussusception.