Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome in a 7-Year-Old Male Presenting with Jejunojejunal Intussusception and a Giant Incidental Meckel’s Diverticulum: A Case Report

Document Type : case report

Authors

1 Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

2 Department of Pediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

4 Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

10.22038/jpp.2026.94847.5632

Abstract

Background: Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyposis, most commonly the small intestine. Although intussusception is a recognaized complication of PJS, primary intussusception is uncommon in children older than three years of age, necessitating a high index of suspicion for underlying pathological lead points.
Case Presentation: We report a case of type B1 PJS in a seven-year-old male who initially presented with an acute abdomen. Subsequent laparotomy revealed a jejunojejunal intussusception along with an incidentally discovered large Meckel’s diverticulum. Notably, the patient lacked the classic mucocutaneous hyperpigmentation typically associated with PJS.
Conclusion: Approaching an acute abdomen in a pediatric patient requires a careful diagnostic evaluation. In children older than three years presenting with intussusception, secondary causes such as PJS must be considered, even in the absence of pathognomonic mucocutaneous pigmentation.

Keywords


  1. Resta N, Pierannunzio D, Lenato GM, Stella A, Capocaccia R, Bagnulo R, et al. Cancer risk associated with STK11/LKB1 germline mutations in Peutz–Jeghers syndrome patients: Results of an Italian multicenter study. Digestive and Liver Disease. 2013 Jul 1;45(7):606-11.
  2. Hearle N, Schumacher V, Menko FH, Olschwang S, Boardman LA, Gille JJ, et al. Frequency and spectrum of cancers in the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Clinical Cancer Research. 2006 May 15;12(10):3209-15.
  3. Chen HY, Jin XW, Li BR, Zhu M, Li J, Mao GP, et al. Cancer risk in patients with Peutz–Jeghers syndrome: A retrospective cohort study of 336 cases. Tumor Biology. 2017 Jun;39(6):1010428317705131.
  4. Özkan S, Serçekuş P, Alataş E, editors. Jinekolojik Onkolojide Bakım. Akademisyen Kitabevi; 2022 Feb 22.
  5. Jeghers H, McKusick VA, Katz KH. Generalized intestinal polyposis and melanin spots of the oral mucosa, lips and digits: a syndrome of diagnostic significance. New England Journal of Medicine. 1949 Dec 22;241(25):993-1005.
  6. Richter JE. Eosinophilic esophagitis dilation in the community—try it—you will like it—but start low and go slow. Official journal of the American College of Gastroenterology| ACG. 2016 Feb 1;111(2):214-6.
  7. Simpson GS, Mahapatra SR, Evans J. Incidental complete excision of appendiceal gastric cancer metastasis. Journal of surgical case reports. 2013 Oct 1;2013(10):rjt080.
  8. Yamamoto H, Sakamoto H, Kumagai H, Abe T, Ishiguro S, Uchida K, et al. Clinical guidelines for diagnosis and management of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in children and adults. Digestion. 2023 Oct 2;104(5):335-47.
  9. Van Lier MG, Mathus-Vliegen EM, Wagner A, Van Leerdam ME, Kuipers EJ. High cumulative risk of intussusception in patients with Peutz–Jeghers syndrome: time to update surveillance guidelines?. Official journal of the American College of Gastroenterology| ACG. 2011 May 1;106(5):940-5.
  10. Zhao L, Feng S, Wu P, Lai XH, Lv C, Chen G. Clinical characteristics and surgical outcome in children with intussusceptions secondary to pathologic lead points: retrospective study in a single institution. Pediatric surgery international. 2019 Jul 8;35(7):807-11.
  11. Lin XK, Xia QZ, Huang XZ, Han YJ, He GR, Zheng N. Clinical characteristics of intussusception secondary to pathologic lead points in children: a single-center experience with 65 cases. Pediatric Surgery International. 2017 Jul;33(7):793-7.
  12. Wang Z, He QM, Zhang H, Zhong W, Xiao WQ, Lu LW, et al. Intussusception patients older than 1 year tend to have early recurrence after pneumatic enema reduction. Pediatric surgery international. 2015 Sep;31(9):855-8.
  13. Zhang Y, Dong Q, Li SX, Ren WD, Shi B, Bai YZ, et al. Clinical and ultrasonographic features of secondary intussusception in children. European radiology. 2016 Dec;26(12):4329-38.
  14. Scorletti F, Bove K, Brown RL. Small bowel-small bowel intussusception with high grade obstruction due to intramural submucosal ileal hamartoma in a 5-year-old child: a case report. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. 2019 Jan 1;61:33-7.
  15. Saad AA, Kkalid T, Abbas M, Salih KM. Rare presentation of chronic ileocecal intussusception secondary to Burkitt’s lymphoma in three years Sudanese boy: a case report and literature review. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2018 Sep 26;31:57.
  16. Hammouda SB, Njima M, Abdeljelil NB, Bellalah A, Njim L, Zakhama A. An unusual presentation revealing Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in adult. Annals of Medicine and Surgery. 2020 Oct 1;58:87-90.
  17. Syarifuddin E, Masadah R, Lusikooy RE, Uwuratuw JA, Faruk M. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in a woman presenting as intussusception: A case report. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. 2021 Feb 1;79:286-90.
  18. Latchford A, Cohen S, Auth M, Scaillon M, Viala J, Daniels R, et al. Management of Peutz‐Jeghers syndrome in children and adolescents: a position paper from the ESPGHAN Polyposis Working Group. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition. 2019 Mar;68(3):442-52.
  19. Wang H, Luo T, Liu WQ, Huang Y, Wu XT, Wang XJ. Clinical presentations and surgical approach of acute intussusception caused by Peutz–Jeghers syndrome in adults. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 2011 Dec;15(12):2218-25.
  20. Freeman HJ. Meckel′ s Diverticulum in Crohn′ s Disease. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2001;15(5):308-11.
  21. Rahmat S, Sangle P, Sandhu O, Aftab Z, Khan S. Does an incidental Meckel's diverticulum warrant resection?. Cureus. 2020 Sep 8;12(9).