Inflammatory fibroid polyp (IFP) of the terminal ileum presenting as acute intestinal obstruction without intussusception.

Inflammatory fibroid polyps (IFPs) are rare entities. They commonly occur in the stomach, and a fraction of them are present in the small intestines. The exact aetiopathogenesis for IFPs remains unknown. Most small bowel IFPs are asymptomatic and usually go undetected until they produce symptoms. IFPs are responsible for roughly 2% of all small bowel obstructions. They act as a lead point for intussusception, by telescoping into the distal bowel loops. Nearly 85 such cases have been reported in the literature. However, if the IFP is sufficiently large and pedunculated, it could cause mechanical intraluminal obstruction without intussusception. We report one such case in a middle-aged man who had an impending perforation of the terminal ileum caused by an IFP. Resection and anastomosis of the offending segment of the small intestine remains the standard of care. IFPs lack malignant potential and recurrences are rare. 2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.