Lipomatosis of the ileocecal valve leading to episodes of partial small bowel obstruction.

The cases of two female patients with lipomatosis of the ileocecal valve inducing episodes of intestinal obstruction are presented. A barium enema with air contrast was performed in patient 1; patient 2 was operated on to treat ileus. Resection of the fatty tissue from the ileocecal valve was performed at operation, after histologic diagnosis on frozen section. These cases suggest that limited resection removing fatty tissue is effective and preferable to more radical resection.