Adult sigmoid intussusception as a rare presentation of advanced adenocarcinoma: a case report

Adult bowel intussusception is a rare clinical entity resulting in 1-5% of intestinal obstructions. It occurs more often in the small intestine and it’s secondary to a pathologic condition in 90% of cases. Its clinical picture can be unspecific, and the diagnosis is often made intraoperatively. We describe an uncommon clinical presentation of this rare clinical entity. A 69-year-old female presented in our emergency room with severe abdominal pain and rectorrhagia. The abdomen computed tomography scan revealed a colonic intussusception and a mass suggestive of a malignancy, as confirmed by rectosigmoidoscopy. The patient underwent the Hartmann procedure. A histopathological examination revealed an advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma as the lead point of the intussusception. Adult sigmoid intussusception is a rare cause of bowel obstruction, and it is often cancer-related. Symptoms can be nonspecific, and diagnosis is best made by CT imaging and endoscopic investigations which allow for planning surgery.