Vast majority of bowel obstruction is due to postoperative adhesions,
malignancy, intestinal inflammatory disease, and
hernias; however, knowledge of other uncommon causes is critical to establish a prompt treatment and decrease mortality.
Xanthomatosis is produced by accumulation of
cholesterol-rich foamy macrophages. Intestinal
xanthomatosis is an uncommon nonneoplastic lesion that may cause small bowel obstruction and several cases have been reported in the English literature as obstruction in the jejunum. We report a case of small intestinal
xanthomatosis occurring in a 51-year-old female who presented with one day of copious
vomiting and intermittent
abdominal pain. Radiologic images revealed jejunal loop thickening and inflammatory changes suggestive of
foreign body obstruction, diagnostic laparoscopy found two
strictures at the jejunum, and a pathologic examination confirmed a segmental small bowel
xanthomatosis. This case illustrates that obstruction even without predisposing factors such as
hyperlipidemia or
lymphoproliferative disorders.