Meckel diverticulum: radiologic demonstration by enteroclysis

Thirteen patients with surgically confirmed Meckel diverticula encountered in a 30 month period are reported. Of 11 symptomatic patients, all had lower gastrointestinal bleeding, except one who had recurrent abdominal pain only. Two diverticula were incidental, coexisting with Crohn disease of the distal ileum. One of these had occasional diarrhea and hematochezia. The diagnosis was established preoperatively by enteroclysis in 11 of these cases. The enterographic demonstration of the mucosal triangular plateau or the triradiate fold pattern indicating the site of exit of the omphalomesenteric duct should lead to a diagnosis of Meckel diverticulum. Pitfalls in interpretation due to the pseudotriangular plateau appearance formed by superimposition of two intestinal loops and the pseudosaccule produced by the axial projection of a fixed loop of bowel and the differential diagnosis are discussed. Enteroclysis seems to be the most dependable method currently available for preoperative demonstration of Meckel diverticulum.