Published online Jun 16, 2017. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v5.i6.254
Peer-review started: September 23, 2016
First decision: November 21, 2016
Revised: March 9, 2017
Accepted: March 21, 2017
Article in press: March 22, 2017
Published online: June 16, 2017
Intussusception is rarely observed in adults. Adult cases account for only 5% of all cases of intussusceptions and almost 1%-5% of bowel obstruction cases. The etiology, presentation and management of intussusception in adults are different from those in children. The clinical presentation in adults often includes nonspecific signs and symptoms, thereby complicating differential diagnosis from other causes of abdominal pain. We report a 29-year-old Asian woman who visited our emergency department with complaints of fever associated with epigastric pain since one day. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated ileocolic intussusception, and laparoscopic small bowel luminal mass resection was performed. Histopathology report confirmed a 3.5 cm × 2.7 cm submucosal lipoma in the terminal ileum. Sufficient vigilance and appropriate investigations are important for prompt diagnosis and surgical referral of patients to enable favorable outcomes. A computed tomography scan can be a helpful modality in establishing a diagnosis.
Core tip: Intussusception is rarely observed in adult patients. Adult clinical presentation is non-specific. A 29-year-old Asian female patient presented with a fever and abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated ileocolic intussusception. A computed tomography scan can help diagnose ileocolic intussusception. Ileocolic intussusception should be considered as an infrequent cause of acute abdominal pain in adults.