title: A case series of Meckel's diverticulum: usefulness of double-balloon enteroscopy for diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. About 98% of affected patients are asymptomatic. Small intestinal examination has become easier since the development of double-balloon enteroscopy. The present case series describes 10 patients with Meckel's diverticulum in whom double-balloon enteroscopy was useful for diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients (8 men, 2 women) with Meckel's diverticulum underwent double-balloon enteroscopy at Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital from May 2004 through May 2013. Their median age was 31.5 years (range, 14-83 years). Ten retrograde and two anterograde double-balloon enteroscopy procedures were performed. Double-balloon enteroscopy showed Meckel's diverticulum in nine patients, but an inverted Meckel's diverticulum was diagnosed as a lipoma in one patient. Meckel's diverticulum was detected by iodinated contrast medium during anterograde double-balloon enteroscopy in one of the two patients who underwent this procedure. Meckel's diverticulum was suspected using capsule endoscopy in one of two patients who underwent this procedure. Abdominal computed tomography was performed in all patients and revealed abnormalities in six, but Meckel's diverticulum was suspected in only two. Technetium-99 m pertechnetate scintigraphy and a small bowel series were carried out in six patients, revealing Meckel's diverticulum in one and three patients, respectively. Surgery was performed in eight patients, and endoscopic resection was carried out in one; the remaining patient was transferred to another hospital. Ulcer formation was found in or near Meckel's diverticulum in eight patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with other modalities, double-balloon enteroscopy is excellent for the diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum because direct observation of both Meckel's diverticulum and ulceration is possible. Double-balloon enteroscopy should be used complementarily to other less invasive examinations when needed to confirm or establish the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Gastroenterology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, 2-1-1 Minatojimaminamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe Hyogo 650-0047, Japan. mfuku4585@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Chiharu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kawanami
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inokuma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy; D058582:Double-Balloon Enteroscopy; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D007082:Ileum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult