Intestinal intussusception as the first manifestation of lung cancer

Abstract

Intussusception is a rare form of intestinal obstruction in adults. Most cases are caused by malignant lesions in the intestinal wall, which in exceptional cases are caused by metastases. The initial manifestation of lung cancer as metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract is an extremely rare event. In most cases metastases are diagnosed after the primary lung tumour, when potentially life-threatening complications such as perforation, obstruction or haemorrhage develop, often requiring emergency surgery. Regardless of treatment, these patients have very poor prognosis due to the advanced stage of their disease.

The study describes the case of a 48-year-old man presenting at the emergency department with a bowel obstruction of a week's duration, who was diagnosed via CT scan with small-bowel intussusception, and via chest x-ray with a suspicious lung nodule. Emergency surgery was performed, with intestinal resection of the invaginated area and anastomosis. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. The histopathological diagnosis was intestinal metastasis from lung carcinoma. Stage IV primary malignant lung tumour was confirmed, with spread through the lungs, bones, brain and metastases in both adrenal glands. Received palliative treatment with radiation and chemotherapy, and died five months after diagnosis.