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Small bowel abscess mimicking the clinical presentation of intussusception: report of one case

Wen-Liang Chen1, Han-Ping Wu, Kai-Wei Chien

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.

Acta Paediatrica Taiwanica = Taiwan Er Ke Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi
|August 6, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric small bowel abscess is rare and difficult to diagnose preoperatively, often mimicking intussusception. Acute abdominal pain in children warrants evaluation for both conditions to ensure accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Intraabdominal infections are common in children.
  • Small bowel abscess is a rare condition in the pediatric population.
  • Preoperative diagnosis of small bowel abscess in the pediatric emergency department (ED) is challenging.

Observation:

  • A case of small bowel abscess presenting with clinical signs mimicking intussusception is reported.
  • The patient's initial presentation in the pediatric ED was misleading.
  • Misdiagnosis is a potential risk due to overlapping clinical features.

Findings:

  • Definitive diagnosis was achieved through surgical confirmation of an inflammatory collection.
  • The small bowel abscess mimicked the clinical presentation of intussusception.

Implications:

  • Acute abdominal pain in pediatric patients requires a broad differential diagnosis.
  • Consideration of small bowel abscess alongside intussusception is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
  • Early and accurate diagnosis can prevent complications associated with delayed treatment.

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