Systematic review shows that pathological lead points are important and frequent in intussusception and are not limited to infants

Abstract

Intussusception is the most clinically relevant cause of bowel obstruction in infancy and can be idiopathic or occur as a result of pathological lead points. The incidence of these pathological lead points varies from 0.3 to 20%, and they can be mucosal, intramural or extrinsic structures. A systematic literature review was performed from 1998 to 2016 to evaluate the incidence and types of pathological lead points in paediatric intussusception, and this identified 31 epidemiological and retrospective case cohort studies, reviews and case reports.

Conclusion: Pathological lead points were frequent in intussusceptions and not limited to infants.

Keywords: Adenomyoma; Burkitt's lymphoma; Intussusception; Meckel's diverticulum; Pathological lead point.