Duplication of the gastrointestinal tract

Background: Gastrointestinal duplications are rare, benign congenital lesio ns that may occur at any location along the alimentary tract and generally require surgical intervention. Resenting symptoms may be quite: varied even among patients with the same anomaly. Objective: To review the clinical presentation of gastrointestinal duplicat ions and present our experience with such lesions over the past decade. Methods: The records of all patients treated for gastrointestinal duplicati ons at a tertiary hospital during 1987 through 1996 were collected, and rel evant published literature reviewed, Results: In the nine patients with gastrointestinal duplications, Six were in the small bowel and one each in the cecum, colon and esophagus. Presenti ng clinical features were varied and often subtle. Perinatal ultrasonograph y; radioscintography and computerized tomography were useful in some cases, while in others the correct diagnosis was established only at surgery. Conclusions: Alimentary tract duplications are uncommon, and may present as solid or cystic tumors, intussusception, perforation or gastrointestinal b leeding. A high index of suspicion is required when dealing with such cases , Appropriate investigations, including imaging techniques, should be direc ted toward adequate and planned Surgery.