RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Intussusceptions occurring in adults are relatively rare, however, surgery is usually recommended since they frequently accompany organic lesions as predisposing factor. The purpose of this study is to analyze clinical manifestations and investigate optimal treatment principles for adult intussusception. METHODS: Clinicopathogic manifestations of 28 adult intussusception patient were analyzied, retrospectively. The types of adult intussusception were classified as enteric and colonic types. Sex ratio was 15:13 and mean age was 52 (17-80) years. RESULTS: CT scan was the most accurate tool for diagnosis of adult intussusception and detection of underlying causes. The types of adult intussusception were 4 jejuno-jejunal, 7 ileo-ileal, 15 ileo-cecal, and 2 colo-colic types. The pathologic lesions were identified in 23 out of 28 cases (82%). Malignancy was the cause of adult intussusception in 5 cases (45%) of enteric type and in 6 cases (35%) of colonic type intussusception. Operations were performed in 26 cases (93%) and resection without reduction was performed in 23 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical exploration without reduction may be the treatment of choice since the majority of cases have organic lesions as the etiology, with relatively frequent association of malignancies.