Computed tomographic appearance of internal herniation through the sigmoid mesocolon

The case of a patient with surgically proven internal herniation of a loop of ileum through the sigmoid mesocolon is described. This 66-year-old man presented clinically with acute lower abdominal pain and an elevated white blood cell count. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a thickened bowel loop with "bird-beak" appearance in the pelvis, centered towards the medial side and lying aside the effaced sigmoid colon. We think this CT picture is highly suggestive of internal herniation of the ileum through the sigmoid mesocolon, which is a rare clinical entity.