Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
186,625 studies31 sourcesUpdated 49 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BYRadiology case reports

Adult intestinal malrotation: A rare incidental finding in trauma imaging.

  • Soheil Mirzaei1,2
  • Sara Eghbalian3
  1. 1Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
  2. 2Department of Radiology, Shahid Sattari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  3. 3Department of Radiology, Masih-E Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Intestinal malrotation is a congenital anomaly resulting from abnormal rotation and fixation of the midgut during embryonic development. It is typically diagnosed in infancy, and its detection in adults-particularly in asymptomatic individuals-is rare. In adults, clinical presentation ranges from chronic, nonspecific symptoms to acute intestinal obstruction and midgut volvulus. A 36-year-old woman presented to the emergency department following a motor vehicle collision. She reported no gastrointestinal complaints and denied any history of recurrent abdominal pain, bilious vomiting, abdominal distension, food intolerance, or symptoms suggestive of bowel obstruction. Contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic CT performed to evaluate traumatic injuries showed no evidence of acute intra-abdominal injury. However, it demonstrated predominantly right-sided small-bowel loops, a left-sided cecum and appendix, an abnormal course of the duodenum, and an anterior position of the superior mesenteric vein relative to the superior mesenteric artery. These findings were consistent with midgut malrotation. There was no evidence of volvulus, obstruction, bowel ischemia, or pneumoperitoneum. The patient was referred to the surgical service for further evaluation and management planning, and she was educated regarding warning signs. Although midgut malrotation is uncommon in adults, it may be identified incidentally on imaging performed for unrelated indications. Familiarity with the anatomic and mesenteric vascular patterns of this anomaly on CT is essential for accurate diagnosis, prevention of misinterpretation, and timely recognition of potentially life-threatening complications. Management of asymptomatic cases should be individualized based on clinical status, imaging findings, and surgical assessment.

Related

  1. P033 Giant cell arteritis identified on biopsy from a neck lymph node dissection: an incidental finding
    Rheumatology advances in practicePeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  2. Case report: Incidental finding of a duplicated right vertebral artery in a 17-year-old female with suspected systemic lupus erythematosus
    Radiology case reportsPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  3. Ectopic Adrenal Cortical Tissue in the Ovary: A Rare Incidental Histopathologic Finding
    Dae Hyun Song, In Ae Cho, Jong Chul Baek
    Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)Peer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  4. Incidental Finding of an Asymptomatic Perielectrode Cyst After Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease
    Stephanie Du Four, Stijn Vandamme, Dimitri Vanhauwaert +2
    CureusPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  5. Anatomical Correction of Adult Intestinal Malrotation Using Kareem's Procedure: A Case Report.
    Waheeb Radman Al-Kubati, Mansour Mohammed Al-Hameli, Nardeen Alqousi +3
    International medical case reports journalPeer-reviewedCC BY-NCFull textSurgery & anaesthesiaEurope PMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{mirzaei2026adult,
  title = {{Adult intestinal malrotation: A rare incidental finding in trauma imaging.}},
  author = {Soheil Mirzaei and Sara Eghbalian},
  journal = {Radiology case reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1016/j.radcr.2026.09.065},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910059},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Adult intestinal malrotation: A rare incidental finding in trauma imaging.
AU  - Soheil Mirzaei
AU  - Sara Eghbalian
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/14
JO  - Radiology case reports
DO  - 10.1016/j.radcr.2026.09.065
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910059
AB  - Intestinal malrotation is a congenital anomaly resulting from abnormal rotation and fixation of the midgut during embryonic development. It is typically diagnosed in infancy, and its detection in adults-particularly in asymptomatic individuals-is rare. In adults, clinical presentation ranges from chronic, nonspecific symptoms to acute intestinal obstruction and midgut volvulus. A 36-year-old woman presented to the emergency department following a motor vehicle collision. She reported no gastrointestinal complaints and denied any history of recurrent abdominal pain, bilious vomiting, abdominal distension, food intolerance, or symptoms suggestive of bowel obstruction. Contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic CT performed to evaluate traumatic injuries showed no evidence of acute intra-abdominal injury. However, it demonstrated predominantly right-sided small-bowel loops, a left-sided cecum and appendix, an abnormal course of the duodenum, and an anterior position of the superior mesenteric vein relative to the superior mesenteric artery. These findings were consistent with midgut malrotation. There was no evidence of volvulus, obstruction, bowel ischemia, or pneumoperitoneum. The patient was referred to the surgical service for further evaluation and management planning, and she was educated regarding warning signs. Although midgut malrotation is uncommon in adults, it may be identified incidentally on imaging performed for unrelated indications. Familiarity with the anatomic and mesenteric vascular patterns of this anomaly on CT is essential for accurate diagnosis, prevention of misinterpretation, and timely recognition of potentially life-threatening complications. Management of asymptomatic cases should be individualized based on clinical status, imaging findings, and surgical assessment.
SN  - 1930-0433
ER  -