Juvenile Hamartomatous Polyp Causing Jejunal Intussusception in an Eight-Year-Old Child: A Case Report
While juvenile hamartomatous polyps are common pediatric findings, they are almost exclusively restricted to the colon and rectum; their occurrence in the small intestine is exceptionally rare and presents a significant diagnostic dilemma. This case report describes an eight-year-old patient who presented with vague constitutional symptoms, including intermittent vomiting, abdominal pain, and severe weight loss resulting in a Z-score of -3.29. Initial diagnostic investigations, including abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, upper digestive endoscopy, and contrast bowel studies, failed to identify a clear etiology. Following an exploratory laparotomy, a juvenile hamartomatous polyp was identified in the mid-jejunum, acting as a lead point for intermittent intussusception with secondary vascular congestion of the intestinal loops. The diagnosis was confirmed through anatomopathological analysis after a successful enterectomy. This case demonstrates that in the presence of unexplained malnutrition and cyclical emesis, clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for small bowel lesions, as prompt surgical intervention can prevent further complications and lead to complete symptomatic resolution.
Authors
- Beatriz Gordilho Bacos
- Tiago Costa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3878-2434)
- Felipe Grieco Paglioli
- Eduardo Motta Buchaim
- Gustavo Sugai
Institutions
- Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo (BR)
- Universidade de Santo Amaro (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2025-12-31
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.100517
- Primary Topic
- Gastrointestinal disorders and treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00