[Intestinal intussusception in adults: contribution of ultrasonography]

Abstract

After observing a benign tumour of the small bowel which led to ileo-ileal invagination in an adult we recalled the main data on the epidemiology, aetiology and diagnosis. In infants, the diagnosis is usually made but in adults, the situation is much rarer and the clinical and radiographic signs are not specific. Echotomography of the abdomen is the most reliable examination. In the adult, surgery is always indicated because invagination is caused by an organic cause in 9 out of 10 cases.