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Published on: July 21, 2023
Intussusception associated with a Meckel's diverticulum and a duplication cyst
Kris Milbrandt1, David Sigalet
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3B 6A8. kris.milbrandt@calgaryhealthregion.ca
Insights
Intussusception, a common cause of pediatric bowel obstruction, typically has no clear cause in young children. This case report details a rare instance of a child with both Meckel's diverticulum and a duplication cyst causing intussusception.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Intussusception is a leading cause of bowel obstruction in children, frequently necessitating surgical consultation.
- The understanding of intussusception etiology has evolved significantly over centuries, with idiopathic causes predominant in younger children.
- Pathologic lead points, such as Meckel's diverticulum and duplication cysts, are recognized causes, with incidence increasing with age.
Observation:
- This report presents a unique pediatric case of intussusception.
- The intussusception was caused by the simultaneous presence of both Meckel's diverticulum and a duplication cyst, acting as lead points.
- This dual pathology is, to our knowledge, unprecedented in the medical literature.
Findings:
- A pediatric patient presented with intussusception requiring surgical intervention.
- Operative reduction was successfully performed.
- Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of both Meckel's diverticulum and a duplication cyst as the lead points.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of thorough intraoperative evaluation for rare dual lead points in pediatric intussusception.
- Recognizing such complex etiologies is crucial for preventing recurrence and ensuring appropriate management.
- Further investigation into the combined occurrence of these anomalies may refine our understanding of intussusception pathogenesis.
Abstract:
Intussusception is a frequent cause for bowel obstructions and pediatric surgical consults. First described by Barbette in 1674, the etiology and treatment of intussusception has undergone several revisions for the last 300 years. Currently, we understand most intussusceptions in young children to be of idiopathic in nature with the incidence of pathologic lead points increasing with the age of the child. Although both Meckel's diverticulum and duplication cysts have both been reported numerous times in the past as a source of a lead point, we report, to our knowledge, the only case of both found in a child requiring operative reduction.
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