Transient small bowel intussusceptions: ultrasound findings and clinical significance M. A. Mateen, 1,2 Sheena Saleem, 2 P. Chandrasekhar Rao, 2 V. Gangadhar, 1 D. Nageshwar Reddy 3 1 Department of Radiodiagnosis, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, 6-3-661, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082, India 2 Department of Radiodiagnosis, Nitya Diagnostic Centre, Red Hills, Hyderabad 500004, India 3 Department of Gastroenterology, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, 6-3-661, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082, India Abstract Purpose: To study the ultrasound (US) findings and clinical significance of transient small bowel intussuscep- tions (TSBI) in adults and children. Methods: Clinical records and US findings of 108 consecutive patients of intestinal intussusception diag- nosed on US between August 1995 and August 2004 were reviewed. In all cases, the length, diameter, wall thickness and color Doppler study of the bowel segment involved in intussusception were evaluated. Subsequent follow-up scans were performed at 30 min, 3 days and 2 weeks. Patients were clinically followed up for 6 months. Results: Forty-one patients were diagnosed as TSBI. Thirty-six intussusceptions were incidentally detected during US performed for some unrelated disease or vague abdominal symptom. Five patients presented with signs of obstruction at the time of the initial US diagnosis; however, the intussusceptions resolved with- out any treatment and were not detected on follow-up scans. Sixty-seven symptomatic patients required surgical intervention. Conclusion: Incidentally detected, small bowel intussus- ceptions without an identifiable pathological lead point, with a normal wall thickness, a length of less than 3.5 cm, normal nondilated proximal bowel and normal vascularity on color Doppler reduce spontaneously and are of no clinical significance. Key words: Transient intussusception—Intestinal diseases—Ultrasound—Transvaginal ultrasound Transient intussusceptions representing spontaneous reduction of an intussusception have been reported as early as in 1940 [1]. Since then, transient, self-limiting small bowel intussusceptions have become a recognized entity. The diagnosis of transient small bowel intus- susceptions (TSBI) in the pediatric age group by ultrasound (US) has been reported [2–5]. The use of computed tomography (CT) in detecting TSBI in adults [6–9] and children [10] has also been documented. The reported literature mainly describes the sonographic features and the use of US in pediatric patients with TSBI and the CT appearance and use of CT in adult patients with TSBI. We present 32 patients in both the pediatric and adult age groups, who underwent US for a variety of indica- tions and were detected to have TSBI. We discuss the presentation, transient nature, US findings and clinical significance of TSBI in both pediatric and adult popu- lations. Methods We reviewed our records from August 1995 to August 2004. A total of 108 patients of intestinal intussuscep- tion were diagnosed by US during this period. Addi- tional information including medical history, surgical history, treatment and follow-up was collated. Sixty- seven patients presented with symptoms of intussus- ception (i.e. acute abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stool, abdominal distension and palpable abdominal mass in combination or alone) and obstruction requiring surgical intervention to resolve the intussusception. These patients were excluded from the study. Intussusception was determined to be tran- sient if (a) the follow-up US showed no evidence of the previously detected intussusception (b) no pathological lead point could be identified by US and (c) the intus- Correspondence to: Sheena Saleem; email: sheenasaleem@gmail.com ª Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006 Published online: 30 August 2006 Abdominal Imaging Abdom Imaging (2006) 31:410–416 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-006-9078-z