Tomodensitometry aspects of intestinal intussusception in adults: a retrospective analytical descriptive series of 26 cases

Abstract

Context and objective. Intestinal intussusception (II) is the penetration of a segment of intestine into the more downstream portion of the intestine, and is very rare in adults compared with children. The aim of this study was to describe the scanographic aspects of II in adults. Methods. This was a descriptive series of cases of II, received in the Medical Imaging Department of the Eaubonne-Montmorency Hospital Group (France), between 2011 and 2015. Patients over 15 years of age who had been diagnosed with II on CT scan were included. The parameters of interest were clinical, scanographic, anatomopathological and therapeutic data. Results. Twenty-six cases were collected. The mean age was 49.9 years, with a preponderance of women (53.8%, sex ratio M/F 1/1.16). Occlusive syndrome was the most common clinical sign (19%). CT scans showed the following forms: ileo-ileal (16%), colo-colic (6%) and 1% recto-sigmoid, antro-duodenal and ileo-caecal. Surgical treatment by intestinal resection was used in 19% of cases; the other patients received conservative treatment with ultrasound monitoring. Anatomopathology tests revealed tumoral and inflammatory lesions in the post-operative biopsies. Conclusion. Imaging, including CT scanning, has played a crucial role in establishing the diagnosis, identifying complications and, in particular, the causes of intestinal intussusception in adults.

Received: January 20^th, 2024

Accepted: July 28^th, 2024

https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/aamed.v17i4.13