Epidemiology of Meckel's diverticulum: A nationwide population-based study in Taiwan: Characteristics of the cases from surgery between 1996 and 2013.

ABSTRACT: The diverse presentation of Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is a diagnostic challenge for clinicians and most previous studies consist of single institutional case series. The aim of this study was to review the related diagnoses of MD and to investigate the epidemiological characteristics using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.We conducted an observational study using a population-based database. Patients diagnosed with MD who concurrently received intestinal surgery were identified. We analyzed the patients' demographic characteristics and relevant diagnoses using χ2 test and 2-sample t test.We identified 2453 newly diagnosed MD patients from 1996 to 2013 and 1227 patients (50%) with intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, and acute appendicitis (acute abdominal pain) were defined as symptomatic. The male to female ratio was 2.4:1 with half of the patients experiencing symptomatic MD before the age of 20 years' old. The age-specific and annual incidence were calculated for all MD and symptomatic MD. Among the symptomatic MD patients, intestinal obstruction was present in 583 (48%), acute appendicitis was present in 464 (38%), and gastrointestinal bleeding was present in 283 (23%) patients. Intestinal obstruction was the most common preoperative diagnosis in the 0 to 10 years and >20 years' age groups, and acute appendicitis (acute abdominal pain) was the most common diagnosis in the 11 to 20 years' age group.This population-based 18 years' epidemiologic study described the distributions of MD symptoms among different age groups, which may help clinicians gain a better understanding of this diagnostically challenging gastrointestinal anomaly.

Meckel's diverticulum in adults: seldom suspected and frequently found.

Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is a well-defined diagnosis in children presenting with either bleeding or obstruction. Although anecdotally adult patients may present with complications from MD, their presentation seems to be different, with a reported predominance of non-bleed-related presentations. Reports in this population, however, are limited, and little is known of the epidemiology of MD in older patients. We performed a retrospective analysis of the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality National Inpatient Sample of all US hospital discharges from 2012 to 2016. We identified patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of MD. Data were abstracted as raw numbers and population weighted rates of discharge with age group, income level, length of stay (LOS) and hospital charges as additional information. On average, 2030 individuals were discharged annually; most (71.1%) were adults (>18 years). Although MD was predominant in males in all age groups, the gender ratio decreased with older age categories from 3.5:1.0 (1-17 years) to 1.6:1.0 (65-84 years). LOS averaged 5.3 days with no clear relationship to other parameters. Median income category, however, closely correlated (R2=0.9996) with diagnosis in older age categories. MD may be significantly more prevalent in adult patients than was previously understood. Differences in gender preponderance suggest that gender may influence the pattern of presentation. Diagnosis in older individuals is closely associated with income or socioeconomic status but not hospital charges or LOS.

Incidentally discovered Meckel's diverticulum: should I stay or should I go?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the indication for surgical treatment of incidentally discovered Meckel's diverticulum (MD) on the basis of clinical and histological features. METHODS: The charts of patients undergoing surgery for MD were analysed. Two groups were identified: (1) patients who had incidentally discovered MD resected (incidental MD, IMD) and (2) patients who received first-line surgery for a complicated MD (CMD). Demographics and intraoperative and post-operative outcomes were compared. Histological findings were also analysed and compared. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were included in the study. IMD was observed in 39 patients (60%), while CMD was observed in 26 (40%). Male gender was significantly more frequent in CMD (P = 0.020), and mean age was significantly higher in IMD (P = 0.025). Body mass index and the American Society of Anesthesiologists score >2 were similar in both groups. Laparoscopy was carried out in 36% of IMD and in 50% of CMD patients (P = 0.309). A tangential resection was performed in 92% of IMD and 73% of CMD patients (P = 0.07). No complications related to diverticular resection were found in IMD, while they occurred in 8% of CMD patients (P = 0.931). Meanly, diverticula were longer when complicated (P = 0.001). CMD showed significant histological differences and more frequent gastric ectopic mucosa (P = 0.039). A malignant tumour was incidentally found in IMD. CONCLUSION: As surgery is mandatory in CMD, the optimal management of IMD remains uncertain. Mucosal abnormalities may favour complications, but these cannot be identified before excision. Stapled diverticulectomy is safe and effective. A surgical approach to IMD may prevent complications at a very low cost.

Neuroendocrine Tumors of Meckel's Diverticula: Rare but Fare Well.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are the most common malignancy arising in Meckel's diverticula (MDs). To date, there are no large series characterizing these tumors. The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with MD NETs (n = 162) from 2004 to 2014. Patient and tumor characteristics as well as outcomes were analyzed. MD NETs were more common in men (72.8%) at a median age of 62 years; 95.1 per cent of patients were white. All patients underwent surgery. Clinical M0 disease was present in 97.4 per cent of patients, and 88.2 per cent of tumors were well differentiated. Lymphovascular invasion was present in 13.2 per cent. Most (60.4%) tumors were less than 10 mm. Lymphadenectomy was performed in 32.9 per cent of patients, with 52.1 per cent of these found to have metastatic lymph node disease. Although most MD NETs are well differentiated, smaller than 10 mm, and do not have lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastases are commonly found, suggesting that mesenteric lymphadenectomy with adequate resection of the small bowel may be necessary for adequate staging and disease clearance.

Systematic review of epidemiology, presentation, and management of Meckel's diverticulum in the 21st century.

BACKGROUND: The contemporary demographics and prevalence of Meckel's diverticulum, clinical presentation and management is not well described. Thus, this article aims to review the recent literature concerning Meckel's diverticulum. METHODS: A systematic PubMed/Medline database search using the terms "Meckel" and "Meckel's" combined with "diverticulum." English language articles published from January 1, 2000 to July 31, 2017 were considered. Studies reporting on the epidemiology of Meckel's diverticulum were included. RESULTS: Of 857 articles meeting the initial search criteria, 92 articles were selected. Only 4 studies were prospective. The prevalence is reported between 0.3% and 2.9% in the general population. Meckels' diverticulum is located 7 to 200 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve (mean 52.4 cm), it is 0.4 to 11.0 cm long (mean 3.05 cm), 0.3 to 7.0 cm in diameter (mean 1.58 cm), and presents with symptoms in 4% to 9% of patients. The male-to-female (M:F 1.5-4:1) gender distribution is reported up to 4 times more frequent in men. Symptomatic patients are usually young. Of the pediatric symptomatic patients, 46.7% have obstruction, 25.3% have hemorrhage, and 19.5% have inflammation as presenting symptom. Corresponding values for adults are 35.6%, 27.3%, and 29.4%. Ectopic gastric tissue is present in 24.2% to 71.0% of symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum, is associated with hemorrhage and is the most common form of ectopic tissue, followed by ectopic pancreatic tissue present in 0% to 12.0%. CONCLUSION: The epidemiological patterns and clinical presentation appears stable in the 21st century. A symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum is managed by resection. The issue of prophylactic in incidental Meckel's diverticulum resection remains controversial.

Male predominance in Meckel's diverticulum: A hyperacidity hypotheses.

The symptomatic presentation of Meckel's diverticulum (MD) depends on a person's age, sex, and presence or absence of ectopic gastric tissue. There are no differences in the prevalence of asymptomatic MD between males and females; however, symptomatic MD has a distinct male predominance with a male-to-female ratio ranging from 2:1 to 5:1 in children. Furthermore, if the ectopic tissue contains gastric mucosa, MD has a greater chance of becoming symptomatic. Studies have shown that acid secretion is more likely to occur in male infants compared to female infants. In adults, men are known to have a higher level of acid production compared to women. Peptic ulcers (PU) are more common in males due to high acid secretion, and gastric tissues are affected by gastrin secretion in both conditions. MD is typically accompanied by ectopic gastric tissue, and could therefore be affected by gastrin and acid secretion in a similar manner to PU. Some of the major complications of MD are diverticulitis, ulcers, and bleeding from adjacent ectopic gastric tissue, and such complications resemble PU. PU also have male to female ratios ranging from 2:1 to 5:1, which is again similar to MD. Since the secretion of both gastrin and acid decrease with age, symptomatic presentation of MD also declines with age. Therefore, we hypothesize that higher gastrin and acid levels in males affect the ectopic gastric mucosa and lead to an increase in MD symptoms, which result an increased incidence of MD in males.

A review of intussusception cases involving failed pneumatic reduction and re-intussusception.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate cases in which intussusception was unsuccessfully treated with pneumatic reduction (PR), and intussusception recurred following PR. METHODS: The medical records of 401 patients who presented with intussusception between 2003 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Included were 61 patients, 20 of whom underwent unsuccessful PR (Group 1), and 41 of whom experienced intussusception recurrence following PR (Group 2). Treatment and outcome were summarized. RESULTS: In Group 1 (mean age: 14.2 months; range: 2.5 months-6 years) surgery was indicated due to PR failure in 15 patients, and perforation occurred during PR in 5. In these 5 patients, age was under 1 year (range 6-9 months) and mean time to presentation was 3 days (range 2-4). During laparotomy, pathologies were noted: mesenteric lymphadenopathy (LAP) and/or Peyer's patch hyperplasia was observed in 15 cases, Meckel's diverticulum in 5 cases. In Group 2 (mean age: 20 months; range: 3 months-6 years), intussusception developed after successful PR in 41 patients, most frequently within the first 24 hours (21.51%). Of the 41 patients, recurrent intussusception (RI) was treated with PR in 36, and laparotomy in 5. Operative findings were mesenteric LAP in 4 and polyp in 1. CONCLUSION: PR is effective for the treatment of intussusception and recurrences. Delayed presentation reduces the success rate. In the event of failure, a lead point is usually encountered at laparotomy.

Pediatric Meckel's Diverticulum: Report of 208 Cases and Review of the Literature.

We report a review of 208 cases of Meckel's diverticulum among pediatric patients from one single institution. One of the aims of this report is to highlight the different diagnostic modalities of Meckel's diverticulum since a majority of cases is undiagnosed prior to surgery. Our review shows 58 cases containing gastric and/or pancreatic heterotopic tissue, including two unique cases. The first case reported is a desmoid tumor arising at the tip of diverticulum, a case that, to our knowledge, has not been previously reported. The second case involves a female patient appearing with an acute abdomen thought to be appendicitis, instead surgery revealed a diverticulum arising from the ileum. The cause of acute abdomen was due to gonococcal infection. In conclusion, we hope that this large series of Meckel's cases will enrich our readers on the differential diagnosis and preoperative diagnostic techniques of Meckels' diverticulum.

Meckel's diverticulum in children: Our 12-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is the one of the most common congenital malformation of gastrointestinal tract and has varied clinical presentations. We are presenting here our 12-year experiences with MD in children at tertiary care hospital in North India. It highlights the fact that isolated gangrene of MD can occur, and it is associated with increased morbidity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study is conducted by analysing the medical records of the patients who were operated for MD in the last 12 years in paediatric surgery department at our hospital. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were operated for MD in study period; in this 52 were males and 13 were females with mean age of presentation 3.2 years. The most common presentation was intestinal obstruction seen in 86.1% (56 cases). Intestinal haemorrhage was seen in 4.6% (3 cases) and diverticulitis in 3% (2 cases). Perforation of the gut with peritonitis was present in 6.1% (four cases). Cause of obstruction was intussusception in 21.4% (12 cases), fibrous band connected to umbilicus in 17.8% (10 cases), volvulus in 17.8% (10 cases), kinking in 16.0% (9 cases), knotting in 14.2% (8 cases) and herniation of gut below in 12.5% (7 cases). Isolated gangrene of MD was present in ten cases with intestinal obstruction. The ectopic gastric mucosa was seen in three and pancreatic mucosa in two cases. Mortality and morbidity during the study were one and three cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: MD may remain clinically silent for lifetime, or it may have life-threatening complications. In our series, intestinal obstruction and not the haemorrhage was the most common presentation. Isolated gangrene of MD with obstruction was present in significant numbers, which we failed to find in literature.

[Adenocarcinoma mucoproductor in Meckel's diverticulum. Case report and review]. / Adenocarcinoma mucoproductor en un divertículo de Meckel. Reporte de caso y revisión del tema.

BACKGROUND: Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly in the small intestine, which results from incomplete obliteration omphalomesenteric duct, usually the diagnosis is incidental, rarely reaching with bleeding, obstruction, diverticulitis or in rare cases a neoplasm. Clinic case: 67 year old woman that started her condition with urinary symptoms (dysuria, frequency, bladder tenesmus and pushing), within the study protocol a cystogram was performed and demonstrated a defect in the bladder dome edges with compression effect, the computed tomography reported a bladder infiltrating hypodense lesion, which is decided to resect finding Meckel's diverticulum with a tumor that infiltrates the bladder dome, the histopathological confirmed the diagnosis shown free edges but insufficient, which need a reintervention to increase margins; all the extension studies shown without tumor activity. CONCLUSIONS: Mucoproductor adenocarcinoma derived from a Meckel's diverticulum is a clinical entity that because of its nonspecific symptomatology and variability of presentation, is diagnosed incidentally on radiological images. The disease has a high mortality rate and a low prevalence.

Antecedentes: el divertículo de Meckel es la anomalía congénita más frecuente en el intestino delgado, que resulta de la obliteración incompleta del conducto onfalomesentérico; su diagnóstico suele ser incidental, pocas veces con sangrado, obstrucción, diverticulitis o en casos raros una neoplasia. Caso clínico: paciente femenina de 67 años de edad, que inició su padecimiento con síntomas urinarios (disuria, polaquiuria, pujo y tenesmo vesical). El cistograma demostró: defecto en el domo de la vejiga, bordes irregulares y efecto de compresión. La tomografía computada reportó: vejiga con lesión hipodensa infiltrante en el domo vesical, al resecarla se encontró un divertículo de Meckel con un tumor infiltrante; el estudio histopatológico confirmó el diagnóstico y demostró los bordes libres; todos los estudios de extensión resultaron sin actividad tumoral. Conclusiones: el adenocarcinoma mucoproductor derivado de un divertículo de Meckel es una entidad clínica que debido a sus síntomas inespecíficos y variabilidad de presentación sólo se diagnostica por lo que se aprecia en las imágenes radiológicas. Este adenocarcinoma tiene un alto índice de mortalidad pero baja prevalencia.

Comparative study on the characteristics of Meckel's diverticulum removal from asymptomatic and symptomatic patients: 18-year experience from Thailand's largest university hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To report an experience with Meckel's diverticulum (MD) from a University Hospital in Thailand, and to compare the characteristics of MD removal from asymptomatic patients and symptomatic patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients undergoing the resection of MD between January 1994 and July 2011 at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok. The patients were subsequently divided into two groups. The asymptomatic group included individuals with MD that were found incidentally during the course of laparotomy performed for reasons not related to the complications of the MD. The symptomatic group included individuals presenting with complications related to the MD. Data were recorded including patient's demographics, clinical presentation, histopathologic findings, and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: The present study included 84 patients (53 males, 63%). Of whom, 60 patients (71%) were pediatric (age < 16 years) and 51 patients (61%) were symptomatic. The most common presentation of symptomatic MDs in pediatric and adult patients was lower gastrointestinal bleeding and mechanical small bowel obstruction, respectively. The correct preoperative diagnosis of MD was made in only 20 patients (39%) of the symptomatic group, all with 99mTc-pertechnetate scanning. The MDs in the symptomatic group were significantly longer with a wider base than those in the asymptomatic group, 3.2 vs. 2.0 cm in length (p = 0.001) and 1.8 vs. 1.0 cm in width (p < 0.001). Ectopic tissue was present more significant in the symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group (51% vs. 12%; p < 0.001). None of the resected MDs contained neoplasm. There was no significant difference in the morbidity or mortality rate between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. CONCLUSION: The MDs in the symptomatic patients were significantly longer with a wider base than those in the asymptomatic patients. Symptomatic MDs contained ectopic tissue more frequently than asymptomatic MDs.

Demographic disparities of children presenting with symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum in children's hospitals.

PURPOSE: Most of the literature about Meckel's diverticulum (MD) consists of single institutional longitudinal case series. We queried the pediatric hospital information system (PHIS) database to obtain information about the epidemiology of MD from a large number of children at geographically diverse locations. METHODS: After IRB approval, the PHIS database was queried over a 9-year period for de-identified patients with both ICD-9 diagnoses of MD and a procedure code for Meckel's diverticulectomy. Data from five hospitals were excluded due to incomplete information. RESULTS: 4,338,396 were children admitted during the study interval; 945 had a symptomatic MD. The incidence decreased with age: 56.4% were under 5 years old, 26.8% were between the ages of 6-12 years, and 16.8% were older than 12 years. 74% were male, which was significantly higher than the PHIS population (53.8% male, P < 0.0001). Caucasians are over-represented in the symptomatic MD group (63.4%) compared to the rest of the PHIS population (48.1%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: According to the PHIS data, there appears to be significant gender and race influence on symptomatic MD. Males present more commonly, as do non-Hispanic White patients, while it is less common among non-Hispanic Black patients.

National trends in the surgical management of Meckel's diverticulum.

BACKGROUND: Treatment recommendations for Meckel's diverticulum (MD) come mostly from single-institution case series. The objective of this study was to review the surgical management and outcomes of children undergoing Meckel's diverticulectomy using contemporary data from a national database. METHODS: We queried 2007 to 2008 data from the Pediatric Health Information System database and analyzed demographic and outcome variables for patients undergoing surgical resection of MD. Cases were classified as primary (symptomatic MD) or secondary (incidental MD). Outcomes in primary cases were compared between open and laparoscopic approaches. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (Chicago, IL). RESULTS: Eight hundred fifteen children underwent Meckel's diverticulectomy. Meckel's diverticulectomy was more common in boys (boy-girl, 2.3:1), and half (53%) of the children required surgery before their fourth birthday. More cases (n = 485; 60%) were classified as primary, and most children were approached by laparotomy (75%). The most common presentations for primary cases were obstruction (30%), bleeding (27%), and intussusception (19%). In the primary group, patients treated with the laparoscopic approach had a shorter length of stay (open approach, 5.7 ± 5.2 days; laparoscopic approach, 4.3 ± 2.7 days; P < .02). CONCLUSION: These data describe current trends in the surgical treatment of MD in the United States. Laparoscopic Meckel's diverticulectomy appears to shorten length of stay but is used much less frequently than the traditional open approach.

[Adenocarcinoma arising in Meckel's diverticulum: a case report and literature review]. / Adenocarcinoma sobre divertículo de Meckel: presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. The presence of malignant lesions arising in the diverticulum is very rare, the most common malignant lesion being sarcoma, followed by carcinoid tumors, and less frequently by adenocarcinomas. We present the case of an 86-year-old man who developed acute abdomen. Surgery revealed a perforated Meckel's diverticulum. Histology identified a poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma arising in Meckel's diverticulum. We provide a review of the literature.

Meckel's diverticulum--a high-risk region for malignancy in the ileum. Insights from a population-based epidemiological study and implications in surgical management.

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of incidental Meckel's diverticulum(MD) is a highly debated controversial issue that has never been discussed from the oncological standpoint. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology and risk of Meckel's diverticulum cancer (MDC) and compare it with other ileal malignancies. METHODS: Data were obtained from 163 cases of MDC and 6214 cases of non-Meckelian ileal cancer, between 1973 and 2006, from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. RESULTS: Mean annual incidence was 1.44 (± 1.12) per 10 million population,with a 5-fold increase in the last few decades. Incidence increases with age,with a mean age at diagnosis of 60.6 (±15.1) years. Adjusted risk of cancer in the MD was at least 70 times higher than any other ileal site. Disease was localized in 67% at presentation and malignant carcinoids constituted the major histologic type (77%). One-third of patients have had lifetime occurrence of other malignancies and in 13% of these patients, MDC was the first malignancy. Median tumor size was 7 mm. Median overall survival was 173 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 124-221 months), with 1- and 5-year relative survival rates of 85.8% (95% CI, 76.9%-91.4%) and 75.8% (95%CI, 64.9%-83.8%), respectively. Cox proportional hazards model revealed that age, histologic type, and metastatic disease were independent factors affecting survival. CONCLUSIONS: MD is a "hot-spot" or high-risk area for cancer in the ileum.With risk that increases with age and high possibility of curative resection with negligible operative mortality, incidental MD is best treated with resection.

Meckel's diverticulum in paediatric practice on Crete (Greece): a 10-year review.

BACKGROUND: Although Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is the most prevalent congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract, it has varied presentations and often becomes a diagnostic challenge. The purpose of this study was to review the diverse presentations of MD, record the epidemiologic features for Crete and review the detection techniques and the treatment options. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a review of the records of all children who underwent surgery for MD in the department of Paediatric Surgery of the University Hospital of Crete (Greece) between January 1999 and January 2009. RESULT: A total of 45 patients (32 male and 13 female) aged 1 to 13 years (median 10 years) with a diagnosis of MD were retrospectively reviewed. The collected data were analysed, looking at age, gender, clinical features, investigations, histopathological findings and surgical interventions. In 25 patients, MD was an incidental finding at laparotomy because of appendicitis. The remaining 20 patients were symptomatic and presented with various clinical features. Nine patients (19.9%) had clinical features of peritonitis; of these, three had perforated MD and six had Meckel's diverticulitis at laparotomy. Four patients were diagnosed with intestinal obstruction. Seven patients (15.5%) presented with lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Ultrasound scans revealed intussusception in three patients, requiring open reduction. The remaining four patients with bleeding per rectum underwent a Meckel's Tc99 scan that showed a positive tracer. CONCLUSION: All patients with MD underwent Meckel's diverticulectomy with appendicectomy. MD has an incidence of approximately 1 to 2% in our population. It is necessary to maintain a high index of suspicion in the diagnosis of MD paediatric age group because it can be easily misdiagnosed.

Meckel's diverticulum-Revisited.

Meckel's diverticulum is a true intestinal diverticulum that results from the failure of the vitelline duct to obliterate during the fifth week of fetal development. In about 50% cases, it contains ectopic or heterotopic tissue which can be the cause of complications. A systematic review of literature was undertaken to study the history, incidence, embryoanatomy, clinical presentation, complication and management of Meckel's diverticulum. Although Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract, it is often difficult to diagnose. It may remain asymptomatic or it may mimic disorders such as Crohn's disease, appendicitis and peptic ulcer disease.

CT findings in children with Meckel diverticulum.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 0.04% of the general population will present with a complication related to Meckel diverticulum. The classic teaching is that symptomatic children with Meckel diverticulum present with painless rectal bleeding and are evaluated with a radionuclide scan. Our subjective experience is that we see children with Meckel diverticulum who present with abdominal pain and are evaluated by CT. OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the findings on CT in children with pathologically proven Meckel diverticulum to identify characteristic patterns of presentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Databases were searched (2004-2008) for all children who had a pathologic diagnosis of Meckel diverticulum and a CT scan performed prior to surgery. Demographics, pathology, and CT features were reviewed. CT features reviewed included: soft-tissue stranding, abnormal calcifications, bowel obstruction, free air, free peritoneal fluid, cystic mass, intussusception, obvious lead point, location, and whether a normal appendix was identified. The frequency of Meckel diverticulum encountered on CT scans was compared to that found during the same period of time on technetium pertechnetate studies. RESULTS: The review identified 16 subjects (mean age 9.5 years, M:F 9:7). CT findings included: soft-tissue stranding in nine (56%), small-bowel obstruction (SBO) in nine (56%), intussusception in three (19%), free fluid in ten (63%), cystic mass in four (25%), calcification in none (0%), free air in one (6%), and no abnormalities in two (13%). A normal appendix was identified in only five children (31%). There were three basic patterns of presentation of abnormalities: SBO only in five, intussusception with SBO in three, or cystic mass with inflammatory stranding in four (one with SBO). Also, 2.3 times more Meckel diverticulum was encountered on CT than on technetium pertechnetate studies. CONCLUSION: Meckel diverticulum is currently more commonly encountered in children on CT performed for abdominal pain than on technetium pertechnetate studies. There are three categories of appearance on CT: SBO only, intussusception, or a cystic inflammatory mass.