Intussusception on small bowel examinations in children.

Six children in whom an intussusception was diagnosed on a small bowel follow-through examination are presented. The radiographic signs of intussusception on such a study include: (1) a narrow channel of barium representing the compressed lumen of the intussusceptum, (2) a soft-tissue mass on either side of this channel due to hypertrophy and edema of the walls of the intussuceptum and intussuscipiens, (3) a coil spring appearance around the narrow channel, and (4) a mass lesion at the distal end of the narrow channel. Not all of these signs are present in each case. Intussusception is a dynamic process and the value of delayed films and frequent fluoroscopy during small bowel follow-through studies in these cases is stressed. All six cases had a demonstrable lesion as a lead point. Jejunal intussusceptions are usually caused by bening lesions--malignancy being found almost exclusively in distal intussusceptions.