Intussusception-induced acute abdomen caused by a giant lipoma in the transverse colon: a rare case report

Abstract

Introduction: Intussusception is a common finding among children. Conversely, it is infrequent in adults. Colonic lipomas are generally clinically silent making them a very rare etiology of intussusception. Presentation of case: The authors present a case of a 48-year-old male who presented to the emergency department suffering from severe abdominal pain. Following examination and investigations, a giant lipoma (GL) in the transverse colon was identified via ultrasound which showed the classical “target sign”. Clinical discussion: Intussusception among adults is unusual as it accounts for only 1% of bowel obstruction cases. Being colo-colonic makes it even more unlikely since it occurs only in 17% of intestinal obstruction cases. GLs exceeding 5 cm in size can present with a variety of symptoms. Intussusception is an uncommon presentation of a GL. Preoperative diagnosis of GL-induced intussusception is highly improbable and surgical resection is the treatment of choice. Conclusion: Despite the dominance of the asymptomatic presentation of lipomas, considering its diagnosis in the case of an intussusception-induced acute abdomen should cross physicians’ minds.