Zeitschrift für klinische Fallberichte

Intestinal Intussusception Secondary to Burkitt′s Lymphoma in an Adult: A First Case Report in Latin America

Abstract

Ustariz M, Carlos A, Boscan S, Sophia C, Lesmes P and Ernesto P

Introduction: Intestinal intussusception is a pathology in which an intestinal segment and its mesentery are telescoped in the lumen of an adjacent intestinal segment as a result of peristalsis, and in many cases cause intestinal obstruction. Its etiology can be benign, malignant or idiopathic, mostly given by different entities, including intestinal diverticula, adhesion bands, vascular malformations, neoplasms, among others. The vast majority occur in paediatric patients, however, up to 5% of these are documented in adult patients and their main etiology in this age group is neoplasms. We present a case of intestinal intussusception secondary to Burkitt’s lymphoma that received management at the San Ignacio University Hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. Case presentation: This case report describes the clinical presentation and diagnostic approach of a patient who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with clinical symptoms suggestive of intestinal obstruction, in which imagological findings of intestinal intussusception are documented, and led to an exploratory laparotomy where the presence of a jejunal-jejunal intussusception conditioned by a neoplastic mass is confirmed. This mass was resected and sent for histopathological study, where the diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma with intestinal involvement confirmed. Subsequently, the patient had a good clinical evolution and is discharged to continue his long-term follow-up by the oncology service. Conclusion: Intestinal obstruction in adults secondary to intussusception is rare and case reports in which the etiology is Burkitt Lymphoma are scarce. Likewise, due to the unspecific symptoms, the surgeon must have the clinical suspicion to be able to carry out a successful diagnostic approach. This case shows how the use of appropriate diagnostic images can guide diagnosis and direct the appropriate surgical management of this surgical emergency