Ileocolic Intussusception Caused by a Giant Ulcerating Lipoma of Bauhin’s Valve: an Unusual Cause of Intestinal Obstruction in the Adult

Abstract

We report a case of intestinal obstruction in a 73-year-old woman caused by ileocolic intussusception. The underlying cause was a giant submucosal ulcerating lipoma (6 × 3.3 × 3.8 cm) extending from the superior mucosal lip of Bauhin’s valve. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a pathognomonic target-like mass appearing as multiple concentric rings. CT scan confirmed the diagnosis. Because of apparent obstruction, a laparotomy with right hemicolectomy and ileocolic anastomosis was performed. Lipomas most frequently occur in the cecum and ascending colon where they represent the most common submucosal mesenchymal tumor. They typically occur in elderly women with an incidence that varies from 0.15 to 0.56 %. Pain, rectal bleeding, and obstruction are typical symptoms. When faced with an intussusception in children, reduction with air per rectum can be performed. In adults, however, malignant cell spreading and seeding is of big concern. Since approximately 20–50 % of all underlying causes are malignant, explorative surgery is favored in adults.