[The value of spiral computed tomography in diagnosis of adult intussusception]
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Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Multimodality Diagnosis of Mesenteric Ischemia
Published on: July 21, 2023
Jian-song Ji1, Shi-zheng Zhang, Chu-xiao Shao
1Department of Radiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China.
Objective:
To evaluate the value of spiral computed tomography (CT) in diagnosis of adult intussusception.
Methods:
Sixty-eight patients with adult intussusception, 42 males and 28 females, aged 52.5 (30-82), with the course of 3 days-13 months, underwent plain CT scanning and biphase CT enhanced scanning of the abdomen. Operation was performed later.
Results:
Sixty-six of the 68 patients (97.1%) were diagnosed as with intussusception by spiral CT. Direct signs of intussusception were shown in 66 patients: concentric circle sign in 66 cases, vessel involvement in 61 cases, and fat sign in 58 cases. And main indirect signs were shown in 19 cases: ring sign in 19 cases, ileus sign in 24 cases, and ascitic fluid sign in 4 cases. Other signs included mesenteric infiltration in 4 cases and retroperitoneal lymphadenectasis in 8 cases. Operation performed later showed an accurate rate of etiological diagnosis of intussusception by CT of 72.1%.
Conclusion:
Spiral CT has important value in diagnosis of adult intussusception and its etiology. The specific signs to diagnose adult intussusception are concentric circle sign, vessel involvement and fat sign.
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