Colo-colonic intussusception secondary to a lipoma in a pregnant patient

Abstract

Intestinal intussusception in adults is rare and usually secondary to a structural lesion, with colonic lipomas being an uncommon benign cause. Its occurrence during pregnancy is exceedingly rare and poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report the case of a 28-year-old woman, 5 weeks pregnant, presenting with colicky abdominal pain and vomiting for one week. Physical examination revealed a palpable mass in the left flank. Abdominal MRI confirmed a colo-colonic intussusception from the transverse to the descending colon, with a lipomatous mass (37 x 41 x 40 mm) as the lead point. Following nutritional optimization and multidisciplinary consensus, a segmental resection with colo-colonic anastomosis was performed. Histopathology confirmed a benign submucosal lipoma. The patient was discharged in good clinical condition with a favorable ongoing pregnancy. Intestinal intussusception secondary to lipoma during pregnancy is an exceptional clinical condition. Early diagnosis with pregnancy-safe imaging and timely surgical intervention can lead to favorable maternal and fetal outcomes.