Bowel intussusceptions in adults: the role of imaging

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Radiology
• Abdominal Imaging

Background:

• Intestinal intussusception in adults is uncommon, comprising only 5% of all cases.
• Unlike pediatric intussusception, adult cases are frequently secondary to underlying pathologies acting as a lead point.
• These lead points include polyps, Meckel's diverticulum, diverticula, or neoplasms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) for adult intestinal intussusception.
• To assess MSCT's accuracy in characterizing intussusceptions, particularly in distinguishing between lead point and non-lead point etiologies.
• To underscore the clinical importance of differentiating intussusception types for treatment planning.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of adult patients diagnosed with intestinal intussusception.
• Review of abdominal MSCT scans to identify intussusception characteristics.
• Correlation of imaging findings with pathological or clinical outcomes to determine the presence of a lead point.

Main Results:

• Abdominal MSCT is highly sensitive for confirming bowel intussusception in adults.
• Specific MSCT findings can aid in differentiating intussusceptions with a lead point from those without.
• Accurate characterization of intussusception on MSCT is crucial for clinical management.

Conclusions:

• MSCT is a valuable tool for diagnosing adult intestinal intussusception.
• Distinguishing between lead point and non-lead point intussusceptions using MSCT is clinically significant.
• This differentiation aids in selecting the most appropriate treatment strategy, potentially avoiding unnecessary surgery.