Adult intussusception caused by a lipoma in the small bowel: report of a case

Abstract

Adult intussusception represents only about 5% of all intussusceptions and is usually caused by a malignant small bowel lesion acting as the apex of intussusception. We report an unusual case in a male patient of adult intussusception caused by a lipomatous lesion located in the terminal ileum, very close to the ileocecal valve, acting as the lead point. After repeated admissions to several hospitals for investigation of nonspecific abdominal symptoms, the possibility of intussusception was finally raised by a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen. The patient underwent a limited right hemicolectomy, which achieved long-lasting cure of his symptoms. This case highlights the difficulties of diagnosing adult intussusception promptly, and the fact that it can also be caused by a benign lesion.