ADULT ENTERIC INTUSSUSCEPTION - ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS ON ENTEROCLYSIS

Enteroclysis patterns encountered in four patients with adult intestin al intussusception of different etiology-including a leiomyoma, a Peut z-Jeghers hamartoma, a metastatic colon carcinoma, and adhesions-were analyzed and compared to surgical and pathological findings. Emphasis was given not only to radiological signs indicative of impaired circul ation but also to the preoperative evaluation of the stimulating cause . A ''stretched spring'' pattern, corresponding to increased distance between large and thick concentric rings, was found to conform to a st age of strangulation with exudation, whereas sharply demarcated fine r ings in close proximity were suggestive of the absence of vascular imp airment. The morphology of the underlying lesion was also shown to con form to the dynamic appearance of the intussusception. Benign submucos al, intraluminal tumors led to a long, rather permanent intussusceptio n, with the tumor being the leading point; whereas intussusception ass ociated with annular malignancies or adhesions was shorter and transie nt or partial, as fixation was present. The cause of the intussuscepti on was correctly identified preoperatively in each case; the vascular compromise involved was also indicated, and the correlation between ra diological appearances and morphology at pathology specimens was excel lent.