Three Cases Report of Duplication of Alimentary Tract

Shinichi Toyooka, Kazutoyo Shirakawa, Shinji Hato, Osanori Sogabe, Hiroya Maeda, Minoru Mizuta, Takashi Ohya, Ichizo Suemitsu*

Department of Surgery and Department of Radiology*, Mitoyo general Hospital

We have treated three cases of alimentary tract duplication in the last four years. Case 1 involved a 34-year-old man who had complained of abdominal pain since early childhood. On X-ray examination, an intra-abdominal calcification was detected. Although a definite diagnosis was not made, a laparotomy was performed because of the history of frequent severe abdominal pain. This led to diagnosis of duplication of the ileum. In case 2 a 13-year-old boy complained of abdominal pain and melena. Laparotomy was performed under a suspected diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulitis. A diagnosis of duplication of the ileum was then made. Case 3 involved a 67-year-old man who had undergone total gastrectomy because of gastric cancer. The operative findings included a tumor the size of a child's head was attached to the S-colon. We resected the tumor and made a diagnosis of duplication of the S-colon. The preoperative diagnosis of alimentary tract duplication is difficult. This potential diagnosis should be borne in mind for a patient who complains of abdominal symptoms with an unknown cause.

Key words
duplication of alimentary tract

Reprint requests
Shinichi Toyooka Department of Surgery, Mitoyo General Hospital
708 Himehama, Toyohamacho, Mitoyogun, Kagawa, 769-12 JAPAN

Accepted
September 11, 1996

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