Recurrent intestinal intussusception in an adult due to intestinal pseudopolyps not associated with inflammatory bowel disease: a case report

Fernando Martínez-Ubieto, Teresa Jiménez-Bernadó, Alvaro Bueno-Delgado, Javier Martínez-Ubieto, Ana Pascual-Bellosta

Intestinal intussusception is very rare in adults and, unlike in children, it is due to an organic cause, mainly benign or malignant tumors, in 90 % of cases. Recurrent intussusception in an adult is even more exceptional, and in the case reported it was due to repeated occurrence of intestinal pseudopolyps, which is exceptional according to the literature. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult, and surgery is always indicated because a tumor is usually present. The surgical procedure may be controversial, as some would prefer desintussusception before resection, while others would advocate initial resection because of the risk of dissemination if a malignant lesion exists. We report the case of a 34-year-old Caucasian man who underwent emergency laparoscopic surgery for intestinal obstruction and was found to have a jejunal intussusception. Polyps or pseudopolyps, some of them large and causing the intussusception, were seen in the surgical specimen. Our patient had also undergone surgery for intussusception 10 years before, after which the pathological report also noted the presence of these formations. Recurrent intussusception in adults due to the presence of intestinal pseudopolyps is exceptional and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case reported.