A rare case of acute abdomen in the adult: The intestinal duplication cyst. case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Annals of medicine and surgery Vol. 40; pp. 18 - 21
• Main Authors: Ricciardolo, Andrea Aurelio, Iaquinta, Tommaso, Tarantini, Alessandro, Sforza, Nicola, Mosca, Donatella, Serra, Francesco, Cabry, Francesca, Gelmini, Roberta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Case Report; Colonic surgery; Congenital anomalies; Intestinal duplication; Colonic surgery; Intestinal duplication; Congenital anomalies
• ISSN: 2049-0801; 2049-0801
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2019.03.002

Duplications of the gastrointestinal tract are rare congenital anomalies that can occur anywhere throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The reported incidence is 1/4500, and more than 80% occurs before the age of two as an acute abdomen or bowel obstruction. The most common site is Ileum (60%), while the colonic localisation is reported between 4 and 18%. Herein we report the case of a 35-year-old man, presented at the Emergency Department with fever and localised abdominal pain in the right iliac fossa. Preoperative abdominal ultrasound and CT scan showed a cystic mass of 44 × 43 × 70 mm adjoining the posterior wall of the right colon. He underwent explorative laparoscopy, laparotomy conversion, right hemicolectomy with an intra-operative diagnosis of colonic duplication cyst, confirmed by histology. The review of the literature showed as the intestinal duplication cysts are rare congenital anomalies. The clinical presentation is variable and depends on the site and the related complications. A surgical approach based on the resection of the involved bowel tract is the treatment associated with the best long-term outcomes. It is important to include intestinal duplication in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen, to ensure the best therapeutic strategy. •Duplications of the gastrointestinal tract are rare congenital anomalies.•The resection of the involved bowel tract is the treatment associated with the best long-term outcomes.•It is important to include intestinal duplication in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen.