When the Bowel Telescopes: A Case Report on Adult Intussusception Secondary to Cecal Carcinoma

Abstract

Adult Intussusception is a rare clinical entity accounting for a small proportion of bowel obstruction
cases in adults. In contrast to pediatric intussusception, which is predominantly idiopathic, adult
intussusception is frequently associated with an identifiable pathological lead point, with malignant
lesions being more common in colonic and ileocecal variants. The clinical presentation in adults is often
nonspecific and variable, ranging from intermittent abdominal pain to acute intestinal obstruction,
thereby making preoperative diagnosis challenging. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography plays
a crucial role in diagnosis by accurately identifying the intussusception, associated obstruction, and
underlying lead points. Surgical management remains the treatment of choice in adult cases, particularly
when malignancy is suspected, with bowel resection often performed according to oncological principles.
We report a 77-year-old male presenting with acute abdominal pain and abdominal distension who was
diagnosed with ileocecal intussusception secondary to caecal adenocarcinoma. Emergency laparotomy
followed by definitive oncological surgery resulted in a favorable postoperative outcome.