Appendicular mucocele as cause of intestinal intussusception: diagnostic by computer tomography

Abstract

Approximately 10-30% of intussusceptions that occur in adults are primary, frequently self-limited and not surgical (1, 2). The detection and frequency of these spontaneous and transient intussusceptions have been increased during the last years because of the widespread application of new imaging techniques as multislice computer tomography (CT) (1). But, in the majority of the obstructive cases there is a tumor that favours the intussusception acting as the lead point. This results in a permanent intestinal obstruction which needs surgical management (1-3). Permanent or secondary intussusceptions constitute uncommon causes of intestinal obstruction. Frequently, they are associated with non specific symptoms that may simulate malignant neoplasms (1). The possible causes of bowel intussusceptions include benign and malignant lesions, such as colonic polyps and carcinomas, lipomas, lymphomas, melanoma metastases, post-surgical adherences and Meckel s diverticulum (1-3). The preoperative diagnosis depends on the imaging methods. Ultrasonography may detect the intussusception but, multislice CT is the most sensitive diagnostic modality and provides information about the possible underlying lesions (1,3). Thus, CT allows differentiate primary, self-limited and transient intussusceptions from secondary permanent intussusceptions that require surgery (1-3). Appendicular mucocele has an approximate incidence of 0,2-0,3% in appendicectomy and constitutes an infrequent cause of intussusception (2,4). The histological analysis of the appendicular mucocele may correspond to any of the following entities: mucous retention cyst, mucous hyperplasia, cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma (4). We report the case of a 40-year-old woman with polycystic kidney as unique clinical antecedent, who presents abdominal pain, constipation and palpable mass on the right flank. With the suspicion of colonic neoplasm an abdominal CT is