Chilaiditi syndrome associated with transverse colon volvulus: first report in a paediatric patient and review of the literature.

A hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the colon, known as Chilaiditi's sign, is usually discovered by chance during the study of another event, given that its presentation is normally asymptomatic. When this finding is accompanied by clinical symptoms, either intermittent or persistent, it is known as Chilaiditi syndrome. It may be associated with intestinal obstruction due to twisting. The association of Chilaiditi syndrome and transverse colon volvulus is exceptional. To date only three cases have been reported, all in adult males. Among the common predisposing factors were anatomical alterations of the intestine such as elongation of the colon and a history of prior abdominal surgery. The clinical symptoms were due to the intestinal obstruction. We present the first description in the paediatric population of an association of transverse colon volvulus and Chilaiditi syndrome whose predisposing factors, clinical symptoms and treatment differed from those reported in the non-paediatric cases published to date.