Atypical Presentation of a Common Disease; Intussuscepting Colorectal Cancers

Symptoms of colonic tumours may vary depending on the site of cancer. In addition to causing bowel obstruction by direct narrowing of the bowel lumen, the cancer may lead to an intussusception. Although intussusception is far less common in adults, it is frequently associated with an intraluminal mass such as a cancer. Diagnosing intussusception can be difficult and is further complicated if it occurs on the background of a pre-existing bowel pathology. Our series shows five patients who were diagnosed with colonic cancer and presented with atypical symptoms of pain, not commonly associated with a right-sided malignant lesion, who were ultimately found to have an intussusception. We highlight the challenges of identifying an intussusception in patients with colonic cancer.