A Rare Case of Giant Meckel’s Diverticulum in an Adult: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting from incomplete obliteration of the vitelline duct. Typically located within 2 feet of the ileocecal valve, it occurs in approximately 2% of the population. While often asymptomatic and most commonly diagnosed in pediatric patients, Meckel's diverticulum in adults is rare and frequently presents with complications such as obstruction, inflammation, ischemia, or perforation. Its non-specific clinical presentation in adults can make diagnosis challenging and often delays definitive management until surgical exploration is performed. Oftentimes, imaging can be non-specific; as in this case, it supported a mesenteric cyst more than a Meckel’s diverticulum. This report highlights a case of a 54-year-old male who presented with vague abdominal symptoms and was subsequently diagnosed through imaging and successfully treated with surgical removal of a 12×11×8 cm giant Meckel’s diverticulum, defined as any diverticulum larger than 5 cm. This report aimed to increase clinical awareness of Meckel's diverticulum in adults and reinforce the need for early detection and prompt surgical intervention in complicated cases.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2026-04-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.107543
Primary Topic
Gastrointestinal disorders and treatments
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

A Rare Case of Giant Meckel’s Diverticulum in an Adult: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

Frances Morana, Reginald Jones, John Nobles, Genevieve Crawley
Cureus
Gastrointestinal disorders and treatments
article

A Rare Case of Giant Meckel’s Diverticulum in an Adult: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

Frances Morana, Reginald Jones, John Nobles, Genevieve Crawley
article en

Abstract

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting from incomplete obliteration of the vitelline duct. Typically located within 2 feet of the ileocecal valve, it occurs in approximately 2% of the population. While often asymptomatic and most commonly diagnosed in pediatric patients, Meckel's diverticulum in adults is rare and frequently presents with complications such as obstruction, inflammation, ischemia, or perforation. Its non-specific clinical presentation in adults can make diagnosis challenging and often delays definitive management until surgical exploration is performed. Oftentimes, imaging can be non-specific; as in this case, it supported a mesenteric cyst more than a Meckel’s diverticulum. This report highlights a case of a 54-year-old male who presented with vague abdominal symptoms and was subsequently diagnosed through imaging and successfully treated with surgical removal of a 12×11×8 cm giant Meckel’s diverticulum, defined as any diverticulum larger than 5 cm. This report aimed to increase clinical awareness of Meckel's diverticulum in adults and reinforce the need for early detection and prompt surgical intervention in complicated cases.

Cureus
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Gastrointestinal disorders and treatments
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

A Rare Case of Giant Meckel’s Diverticulum in an Adult: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges — Frances Morana, Reginald Jones, et al. · Cureus (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS