[Ileo-ceco-colic invagination. Apropos of a case caused by lymphoma of the last ileal loop].

An unusual case of intestinal invagination due to lymphoma of the last ileal segment serves as a basis for a review of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the invagination process and its different onset modalities. Special attention is paid to how chronic invaginations, as a result of their varied, unremarkable symptomatology, often involve mistaken or late diagnosis. The present case is noteworthy because of the summing of factors proper to primary invagination with those of secondary invagination. The hyperperistaltism resulting from the presence of a non-pedunculated mass acted on an intestinal segment in which the anatomico-functional conditions for the establishment of primary invagination were often present., All this was responsible for a chronic basic ileo-caecal invagination process, the cause of progressive limming with acute episodes of further advance of the invaginated part to the transverse colon. It was these acute episodes that gave clinical dignity to the insidious symptomatology reported by the patient thus allowing speedy, correct diagnosis of the ongoing neoplastic process and hence radical surgery with favourable prognosis.