Lipomatosis of the ileocecal valve
Updates to Article Attributes
Lipomatosis of the ileocaecal valve is a benign condition characterised by fatty infiltration of the ileocaecal valve. It is usually detected incidentally during investigation of other conditions. However, it may itself cause certainoccasionally causes vague abdominal symptoms and may be missed on preliminary ultrasound unless a high level of suspicion is present.
Epidemiology
This condition is usually seen in adults older than 40 years and more prevalent in females.
Clinical presentation
Non-specific symptoms are present:
vague abdominal discomfort
constipation
cramping
nausea +/- vomiting
and nauseachronic right iliac fossa pain
Pathology
Lipomatosis of the ileocaecal valve is characterised by increased fatty infiltration in the submucosal layer. The symptoms are produced in part by recurrent intussusception and bowel obstruction.
Radiographic features
Fluoroscopy: barium studies
May show a smooth mass like-like enlargement of the ileocaecal valve. The lips of the ileocaecal valve are thickened and show nodularity; however, the margins are smooth.
Ultrasound
It may be missed on preliminary ultrasound unless a high level of suspicion is present. The ileocaecal valve will appear bulky and hyperechoic on ultrasound. Associated intussusception may be identified if present.
CT
CT establishes this entity beyond doubt. Circumferential thickening of lips of the ileocaecal valve is seen showing fat attenuation.
MRI
MRI is seldom required for diagnosis. However, the lesion shows circumferential thickening with high signal appearance of the ileocaecal valve on both T1 and T2 weighted images and shows loss of signal on fat suppressed sequence.
Treatment and prognosis
No definite management is required if asymptomatic.
Surgical resection is done when complications like intussusception and bowel obstruction are present.
Surgical resection is also done in cases of atypical appearance to rule out malignant lesion.
Differential diagnosis
Imaging differential considerations include:
true lipoma of ileocaecal valve 3,4
-<p><strong>Lipomatosis of the ileocaecal valve</strong> is a benign condition usually detected incidentally during investigation of other conditions. However, it may itself cause certain vague abdominal symptoms and may be missed on preliminary ultrasound unless a high level of suspicion is present.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>This condition is usually seen in adults older than 40 years and more prevalent in females.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Non-specific symptoms are present:</p><ul>-<li>vague abdominal discomfort</li>-<li>constipation</li>-<li>cramping</li>-<li>vomiting and nausea</li>-<li>chronic right iliac fossa pain</li>-</ul><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Lipomatosis of the <a href="/articles/ileocaecal-valve">ileocaecal valve</a> is characterised by increased fatty infiltration in the submucosal layer. The symptoms are produced in part by recurrent <a href="/articles/intussusception">intussusception</a> and <a href="/articles/bowel-obstruction">bowel obstruction</a>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Fluoroscopy: barium studies</h5><p>May show a smooth mass like enlargement of the ileocaecal valve. The lips of the ileocaecal valve are thickened and show nodularity; however, the margins are smooth.</p><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>The ileocaecal valve will appear bulky and hyperechoic on ultrasound. Associated intussusception may be identified if present.</p><h5>CT</h5><p>CT establishes this entity beyond doubt. Circumferential thickening of lips of the ileocaecal valve is seen showing fat attenuation.</p><h5>MRI</h5><p>MRI is seldom required for diagnosis. However, the lesion shows circumferential thickening with high signal appearance of the ileocaecal valve on both T1 and T2 weighted images and shows loss of signal on fat suppressed sequence.</p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>No definite management is required if asymptomatic.</p><p>Surgical resection is done when complications like intussusception and bowel obstruction are present.</p><p>Surgical resection is also done in cases of atypical appearance to rule out malignant lesion.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>Imaging differential considerations include:</p><ul><li>true <a href="/articles/lipoma-of-ileocaecal-valve">lipoma of ileocaecal valve</a> <sup>3,4</sup>-</li></ul>- +<p><strong>Lipomatosis of the ileocaecal valve</strong> is a benign condition characterised by fatty infiltration of the <a href="/articles/ileocaecal-valve" title="Ileocaecal valve">ileocaecal valve</a>. It is usually detected incidentally during investigation of other conditions. However, it occasionally causes vague abdominal symptoms.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>This condition is usually seen in adults older than 40 years and more prevalent in females.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Non-specific symptoms are present:</p><ul>
- +<li><p>vague abdominal discomfort</p></li>
- +<li><p>constipation</p></li>
- +<li><p>cramping</p></li>
- +<li><p>nausea +/- vomiting</p></li>
- +<li><p>chronic right iliac fossa pain</p></li>
- +</ul><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Lipomatosis of the <a href="/articles/ileocaecal-valve">ileocaecal valve</a> is characterised by increased fatty infiltration in the submucosal layer. The symptoms are produced in part by recurrent <a href="/articles/intussusception">intussusception</a> and <a href="/articles/bowel-obstruction">bowel obstruction</a>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Fluoroscopy: barium studies</h5><p>May show a smooth mass-like enlargement of the ileocaecal valve. The lips of the ileocaecal valve are thickened and show nodularity; however, the margins are smooth.</p><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>It may be missed on preliminary ultrasound unless a high level of suspicion is present. The ileocaecal valve will appear bulky and hyperechoic on ultrasound. Associated intussusception may be identified if present.</p><h5>CT</h5><p>CT establishes this entity beyond doubt. Circumferential thickening of lips of the ileocaecal valve is seen showing fat attenuation.</p><h5>MRI</h5><p>MRI is seldom required for diagnosis. However, the lesion shows circumferential thickening with high signal appearance of the ileocaecal valve on both T1 and T2 weighted images and shows loss of signal on fat suppressed sequence.</p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>No definite management is required if asymptomatic.</p><p>Surgical resection is done when complications like intussusception and bowel obstruction are present.</p><p>Surgical resection is also done in cases of atypical appearance to rule out malignant lesion.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>Imaging differential considerations include:</p><ul><li><p>true <a href="/articles/lipoma-of-ileocaecal-valve">lipoma of ileocaecal valve</a> <sup>3,4</sup></p></li></ul>
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