Published online Feb 21, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i7.2398
Peer-review started: September 16, 2015
First decision: October 14, 2015
Revised: November 3, 2015
Accepted: December 12, 2015
Article in press: December 12, 2015
Published online: February 21, 2016
Processing time: 143 Days and 13.6 Hours
Gastrointestinal duplications are uncommon congenital malformations that can occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. Most cases are recognized before the age of 2 years, and those encountered in adults are rare. We describe here a case of ascending colon duplication in a 20-year-old male that caused intussusception and was treated laparoscopically. Although computed tomography revealed a cystic mass filled with stool-like material, the preoperative diagnosis was a submucosal tumor of the ascending colon. We performed a laparoscopic right colectomy, and the postoperative pathological diagnosis was duplication of the ascending colon, both cystic and tubular components. We conclude that gastrointestinal duplications, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all abdominal and submucosal cystic lesions and that laparoscopy is a preferred approach for the surgical treatment of gastrointestinal duplications.
Core tip: Gastrointestinal duplications are uncommon congenital malformations and are rarely encountered in adults. We describe an adult case of ascending colon duplication resected by laparoscopic right colectomy. We conclude that gastrointestinal duplications should be included in the differential diagnosis of all abdominal and submucosal cystic lesions and that laparoscopy is a preferred approach for the surgical treatment of gastrointestinal duplications.