CT Findings of Intussusception in Adults

Intussusception is rare in adults, in contrast to its frequent occurrence in infants. The clinical presentation is variable, consisting mainly of abdominal pain that may be chronic, intermittent, or acute. The classic triad of nausea and vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and an abdominal mass typically present in children with intussusception does not usually appear in adults. This diagnosis is, therefore, rarely included in the differential diagnosis of adult patients with vague abdominal complaints. However, with increasing use of CT scanning in the evaluation of patients with abdominal pain, the diagnosis of intussusception can be readily suggested by the radiologist because of its virtually pathognomonic appearance on CT.