Gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by adult intussusception secondary to small intestinal tumors: Two case reports

RATIONALE: Adult intussusception is rarely observed, and the clinical manifestations are very atypical. The most common symptom is abdominal pain, while the incidence of hematochezia is relatively low. We report two cases of adult intussusception secondary to small intestinal tumors with gastrointestinal hemorrhage as the main symptom. PATIENT CONCERNS: Two men aged 19 and 54 years were successively referred to our department due to intermittent hematochezia. The hemoglobin levels of the two patients declined progressively, and conservative treatment was ineffective. DIAGNOSES: The first patient underwent an abdominal computed tomography angiography examination, which showed that the intestine and its mesentery were tortuous, suggesting an intra-abdominal hernia or intussusception. The second patient underwent an abdominal computed tomography examination, which suggested a high possibility of an intussusception. The two patients were diagnosed as adult intussusception caused by small intestinal tumors. INTERVENTIONS: Emergency laparoscopic explorations were performed. Enteroenteric intussusceptions caused by ileal tumors were found during surgery. Reduction of the intussusceptions and resection of the ileal tumors were performed. OUTCOMES: The patients recovered well after surgery, and postoperative pathology showed that the tumors were a vascular hamartoma polyp and a lipoma. LESSONS: Adult intussusception is very rare, particularly with gastrointestinal hemorrhage as the main symptom. Isolated hamartoma polyp is a rare cause of intussusception in adults. The clinical manifestations of adult intussusception are very atypical, and thus, making a preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Abdominal CT or CTA is an effective diagnostic method for adult intussusception. For adult patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by intussusceptions, active surgery should be performed when conservative treatment is not effective. Laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective treatment for adult intussusceptions caused by benign diseases.