성인의 장중첩증

Intussusception in adults is relatively rare and usually occurs secondary to tumors or other underlying causes. It appears that the incidence of associated malignancy is increasing compare to the past. The characteristics of adult intussusception is multiple attacks of partial intestinal obstruction and its chronic course. However, preoperative diagnosis is often difficult due to its vague and variable clinical picutres. The treatment principle is operative intervention to its causative lesion. During the past 20 years, from Jan. 1967 to Aug. 1987, 38 adult patients had documented adult intussusception at Yonsei Medical Center; 24 instances of intussusception originating in the small intestine and 14 instances originating in the colon. The etiologic factors were found in 27 cases (71%). Of the 14 colon intussusception, 3 cases were associated with malignancy and 6 out of 24 small bowel intussusception were result from the malignancy. The most common malignancy found was malignant lymphoma. Surgical intervention was carried out in all of these 38 cases; 26 cases underwent surgical resection and remainder was reduced manually after surgical exploration.