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Intussusception

  • Chapter
Gastrointestinal Tract Sonography in Fetuses and Children

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

Abstract

Intussusception (I) is the invagination or telescoping of one portion of intestine (intussusceptum) into the contiguous distal segment (intussuscipiens). It is the most common acute abdominal emergency of infancy and early childhood, but it can occur in the older child and at any age. The obstruction may cause compression of the invaginated mesenteric vessels leading to bowel edema, ischemia and necrosis. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital. The clinical triad of abdominal pain, vomiting or anorexia and bloody stools is rarely complete. The radiologist’s role is essential for diagnosis and therapeutic management. Sonography (US) has become the imaging modality of choice to diagnose or exclude I promptly and accurately. The enema is performed only for therapeutic reasons. Moreover, US can determine I type, which greatly influences therapeutic management. Indeed, the incidence of leadpoints is variable depending on the form of I.

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  1. Service de Radiologie Pdiatriquc, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, 371 Av. Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Catherine Baud MD

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Baud, C. (2008). Intussusception. In: Gastrointestinal Tract Sonography in Fetuses and Children. Medical Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68917-1_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68917-1_8

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