Symptomatic congenital lesions of the alimentary tract in adults

Abstract

Congenital anomalies of the alimentary tract can evade detection into adulthood because they cause only moderate symptoms or they escape purview of a prepared observer. In other instances, evolution or copathogenesis may need to occur before the lesions become manifest. We have managed 17 of these patients presenting at ages 23 to 71 years. The median duration of symptoms was 5 years, ranging from 1 month to 23 years. Defects of foregut embryogenesis predominated (71%). We were able to establish the correct diagnosis before operating on nine patients, but three had already had a previous celiotomy for the same problem so a truly preoperative diagnosis was possible in only six (35%). The literature validates the dominance of foregut anomalies in adults. There is no older age limit that would exclude consideration of these lesions. Endoscopy, computerized tomography, and ultrasonography have greatly facilitated recognition, but our experience suggests that the principal obstacle to timely diagnosis is the reluctance to consider a congenital cause for an adult's symptoms.