to the editor: Intussusception most commonly affects infants between the ages of five and nine months,^1–3 but it may also occur in older children, teenagers and adults. The etiology is usually unknown in infants; older children and adults, however, often have lead points^1–3 such as a Meckel's diverticulum, intestinal polyps, neoplasms and foreign bodies.³ First-hand treatment of this condition is hydrostatic desinvagination.⁴ When this treatment is inappropriate or unsuccessful, surgical reduction is necessary.⁴ We report on two girls suffering from ileoileal intussusception with a leading Meckel's diverticulum.

The first case involved a 12-year-old girl with episodic, intermittent cramping abdominal pain over several years who was admitted to the surgical emergency department with lower abdominal pain. Previously she had been admitted for overnight observation and evaluation for appendicitis. At that time her symptoms subsided so no operation was performed. At the time of this admission, she presented with intense right lower quadrant tenderness on abdominal palpation. Despite normal laboratory values and the absence of fever, she was scheduled for appendectomy. At laparotomy, her appendix was normal in appearance. However, ileoileal intussusception with a Meckel's diverticulum as a lead point was found. The diverticulum was extirpated. Histologic analysis revealed a Meckel's diverticulum with some ectopic gastric mucosa. When contacted 14 months after the operation, the patient declared that she had not experienced any abdominal pain since the operation.

The second case involved an 18-year-old woman who presented with a history and clinical findings quite similar to those of the first case. Perioperative findings and the postoperative course, including histologic analysis and personal communication, were identical to those of the first case 13 months after the operation.

Intussusception is a fairly common disease in small children, but is considered rare in the adolescent or adult patient . After encountering the two reported cases, we question whether the incidence of ileoileal intussusception may be underestimated in adolescents. The fact that the two patients had a long history of episodes of abdominal pain, similar to the pain on the day of admission, makes it probable that they had actually suffered from several previous intussusceptions that perhaps resolved spontaneously.

Digital rectal examination is mandatory in the evaluation of acute abdomen. Still, the value of digital rectal examination is somewhat limited in patients with intussusception, since not all patients with this condition will present with grossly bloody stools. However, since occult blood evaluation is frequently positive, combining this examination with testing for occult blood will increase the sensitivity.⁵ Ultrasound of the abdomen is the examination of choice for diagnosis of intussusception. It is a simple and well-tolerated examination, with good sensitivity.⁶

Hopefully this letter may serve as a reminder that although ileoileal intussusception may not be a common condition in adolescents and adults, it should be considered in cases with unexplained, recurrent abdominal pain.