Abstract

Intussusception is rare in adults, making it a challenging and often delayed diagnosis. Patients may re-present with non-specific and subacute abdominal symptoms. Abdominal CT is the most sensitive imaging modality and is often required to make the diagnosis of intussusception. In contrast to the paediatric population, intussusception in adults is most often associated with a pathological lesion acting as a lead point. In adults, the lead point is often secondary to malignancy, though benign lesions can also be implicated. As such, surgical management with selective resection is the mainstay of treatment in adults. We describe a rare case of ileocaecal intussusception in an adult secondary to a large ileocaecal lipoma, successfully treated with laparotomy and resection in a remote Western Australian hospital. The increasing availability of CT imaging and skilled general surgeons in rural and remote Australia allows for the diagnosis and surgical management of such cases without inter-hospital transfer.