Intussusception: Exams And Tests
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Exams and Tests
A diagnosis of intussusception is usually based on the child's symptoms. If intussusception is suspected, the doctor will do a physical exam. As part of the physical exam, the doctor examines the child's:
- Abdomen, for a tender, sausage-shaped lump, which suggests telescoping of the intestine. This lump may be difficult to detect, especially if the child is crying.
- Rectum, for the presence of blood or signs of bleeding or bulging of tissue into the rectum (prolapse).
An X-ray of the abdomen is usually done also. The X-ray may show nothing unusual in the child's intestines, or it may show signs of a blockage in the intestine.
If the child has rectal bleeding, and an abdominal X-ray strongly suggests the condition, the diagnosis is likely to be intussusception.
Ultrasound of the abdomen and an enema are used to confirm a diagnosis of intussusception.
Ultrasound of the abdomen
An ultrasound of the abdomen can determine whether intussusception is present and show how much swelling there is in a child's intestinal wall.
Air or barium enema
During an enema, air, saline, or barium (a milky-white liquid) is flushed through a child's rectum into the intestines. If intussusception is present, X-rays taken during the enema will show a blockage or a small opening in the affected part of the intestine.
- Enemas using air or saline rather than barium are generally preferred in babies and young children.
- Because of the risk of intestinal rupture during an enema, this procedure should only be done in a hospital where access to surgery is immediately available.
- An enema is also used as a treatment to help clear the intestinal blockage.
A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen is helpful in diagnosing intussusception in adults. It is rarely done in children.
| Last updated: | August 01, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Debby Golonka, MPH |
| Reviewed By: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Brad W. Warner, MD - Pediatric Surgery |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC |
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