Diagnosis and treatment of intestinal intussusception in adults: a rare experience for surgeons

We evaluated the aetiological factors, diagnoses and treatment outcomes of adult cases of invagination of the intestine, or intussusception. We elucidated the role of ultrasonography (USG), computed tomography (CT) and other techniques in the diagnosis of such cases.

Six patients with sufficient medical data, all of whom were followed-up and treated for intussusception at Safa Hospital, General Surgery Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey, between July 2008 and December 2013, were enrolled.

The site of intussusception was the small bowel in five cases. The aetiopathology was benign in 5 (83.3%) cases and included inflammatory fibroid polyp (IFP) and adhesion. The malignant case was adenocarcinoma. The bowel segments involved were ileoileal in five cases and ileocolic in one case.

USG and CT aided with the diagnosis. Although more rare in adults than in children, cases of ileus presenting with acute abdominal disorder, particularly those with an uncertain diagnosis, should be considered possible intussusception cases.