title: The abdominal cocoon: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in two patients.
abstract: The abdominal cocoon is a rare disease that is characterized by total or partial encasement of the small bowel by a thick and fibrotic membrane. After an increased number of case reports, the characteristic age group and sex distribution of abdominal cocoon have changed. Although the etiology is unknown, congenital malformation is implicated as the causative factor in the two patients in this report. Although preoperative diagnosis is a matter of challenge and usually made at laparotomy, our experience suggests that computed tomographic evidence of clustered small bowel loops encased by a thin membrane-like sac is a characteristic preoperative finding in patients with abdominal cocoon. Surgical removal of the membrane and adhesions is the most appropriate choice of therapy.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People Republic of China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Cai
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Zhengrong
authors: Z
authors: Xuan
authors: Justin
authors: J
authors: Hering
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Helton
authors: N Joseph
authors: NJ
authors: Espat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed