Congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract diagnosed in adulthood--diagnosis and management.
BACKGROUND
Congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract are a significant cause of morbidity in children and less frequently in adults. In rare cases, they may run undetected during childhood and may present during adolescence. These abnormalities include developmental obstructive defects of the duodenum and the small intestine, anomalies of rotation and fixation, intestinal duplications, and anomalies of the colon and rectum.


CONCLUSIONS
When detected in adulthood, they may require different evaluation and surgical correction. Some of these anomalies should be managed surgically as soon as they cause symptoms. Others may cause persistent problems in adulthood requiring medical management for years. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of all the different ways of diagnosis and management of these anomalies reported in the literature.
Vaos
George
G
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Alexandroupolis University Hospital, Democritus University of Thrace School of Medicine, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Misiakos
Evangelos P
EP
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D004065:Digestive System Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D004386:Duodenum / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D046248:Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D018570:Risk Assessment