Tubular colonic duplication in an adult patient with long-standing history of constipation and tenesmus

ABSTRACT

Background Intestinal duplications are rare congenital developmental anomalies with an incidence of 0.005-0.025% of births. They are usually identified before 2 years of age and commonly affect the foregut or mid-/hindgut. However, it is very uncommon for these anomalies, to arise in the colon or present during adulthood. Case presentation Herein, we present a case of a 28-year-old woman with a long-standing history of constipation, tenesmus, and rectal prolapse. Colonoscopy results were normal. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a diffusely mildly dilated redundant colon, which was prominently stool-filled. The gastrografin enema showed ahaustral mucosal appearance of the sigmoid and descending colon with findings suggestive of tricompartmental pelvic floor prolapse, moderate-size anterior rectocele, and grade 2 sigmoidocele. A laparoscopic exploration was performed, revealing a tubular duplicated colon at the sigmoid level. A sigmoid resection rectopexy was performed. Pathologic examination supported the diagnosis. At 1-month follow-up, the patient was doing well without constipation or rectal prolapse. Conclusions Tubular colonic duplications are very rare in adults but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic constipation refractory to medical therapy. Due to the non-specific manifestations of this entity, it is rather challenging to make an accurate diagnosis pre-operatively. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment. Some reports suggest that carcinomas are more prone to develop in colonic/rectal duplications than in other GI tract duplications.