Two cases of ileus associated with true enteroliths

Abstract

Herein, we describe 2 cases of ileus associated with true enteroliths.
Case 1 : An 84-year-old man visited our hospital with chief complaints of abdominal pain and vomiting. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed images of intestinal dilatation associated with a large calcification in the intestine. Surgery was performed, because conservative therapy failed to achieve symptomatic relief. Laparotomy revealed stenosis in the small intestine that was located 150 cm on the oral side from the end of the ileum. An enterolith measuring 3 cm in diameter was found on the inside.
Case 2 : A 39-year-old man visited our hospital with a chief complaint of lower abdominal pain. Abdominal CT revealed images of dilatation of the small intestine in the pelvis and calculi in the intestine. Surgery was performed, becase conservative therapy failed to achieve symptomatic relief. Laparotomy revealed stenosis in the small intestine that was located 80 cm on the oral side from the end of the ileum, and 4 discontinuous areas of stenosis were observed on the oral side. In the 2 most severe areas of stenosis, enterolliths measuring 2 cm in diameter were observed.
Partial small intestinal resection was performed in both cases. Calculus analysis revealed that the main component of the enteroliths was calcium oxalate.
An enterolith is classified as a true enterolith or a false enterolith, and the true enterolith is considered a relatively rare disease. We report our experience with 2 cases of ileus associated with true enteroliths.