Clinical considerations in unusual colonic obstructions

Colonic obstructions of uncommon cause may present challenging diagnostic problems that require prompt and correct treatment. Fifty such patients were studied and illustrate the problems that may be encountered. Clinical observations of importance include the need to distinguish a prostatic cancer obstructing the rectum, the mimicking of inoperable cancer by various benign processes, the need to decompress an enlarging cecum even in paralytic ileus, and the occasional inadequacy of sigmoidectomy as the elective treatment of sigmoid volvulus.