Intestinal adenocarcinoma originating from an undiagnosed Meckel's diverticulum

Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital anomaly leading to the formation of a true diverticulum in the distal small intestine. Though most are asymptomatic and discovered incidentally, Meckel's diverticuli can give rise to a wide range of symptoms. Rarely, this can be a malignancy, most commonly a carcinoid tumor. Other cancers have also been reported, with adenocarcinomas being particularly rare. Here, we report the case of a 62-year-old man presenting to the emergency room with vague gastrointestinal symptoms. Subsequent workup revealed a 3 cm mass in the distal jejunum/proximal ileum, which was located within a previously undiagnosed Meckel's diverticulum. The mass was sent to pathology, who confirmed an adenocarcinoma arising from a small bowel diverticulum. This case serves as an important reminder of the malignant potential of a Meckel's diverticulum and adds to the ongoing discussion regarding whether prophylactic diverticulectomy should be recommended to patients with a known Meckel's diverticulum.