Intussusception in the adult.

Intussusception in the adult is an uncommon condition usually with a chronic history but it may occasionally present as an acute process. The clinical picture is most often that of a large or a small bowel obstruction. When the intussusception begins in the small bowel, a benign causative factor is found most frequently, whereas intussusception of the colon is most often secondary to a malignant lesion. Idiopathic causes occur rarely as compared to the pediatric age group. The treatment of adult intussusception is surgical.