Introduction:

Intussusception occurs when part of the intestine slides into an adjacent intestinal segment. Inflammatory myofibroblast tumor is a rare cause of this condition, and is observed in 5% -16% cases in adults.

Case presentation:

A 41-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain and distension. A exploratory laparoscopy was performed, finding ileocolic intussusception into the transverse colon. Due to uncontrollable bleeding, the procedure was converted to laparotomy; resection and latero-lateral ileocolic anastomosis were performed. Histopathology reported inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, with a favorable postoperative evolution. The patient was discharged on the sixth postoperative day.

Discussion:

When located in the small intestine, 57% of the tumors that cause intussusception are benign, including the myofibroblastic tumor in this patient. The symptoms and signs associated with this neoplasm are cramp-like abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Although imaging studies may lead to suspect this diagnosis, in most cases it is made intraoperatively. Surgical resection of the affected intestinal segment is curative, with favorable prognosis.

Conclusions:

This case is considered as a rare cause of intussusception. It had a benign course and is still under study since its patho-physiology has not been fully understood.

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