Three cases report of duplication of alimentary tract

We have treated three cases of alimentary tract duplication in the last four years. Case 1 involved a 34-year-old man who had complained of abdominal pain since early childhood. On X-ray examination, an intra-abdominal calcification was detected. Although a definite diagnosis was not made, a laparotomy was performed because of the history of frequent severe abdominal pain. This led to diagnosis of duplication of the ileum. In case 2 a 13-year-old boy complained of abdominal pain and melena. Laparotomy was performed under a suspected diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulitis. A diagnosis of duplication of the ileum was then made. Case 3 involved a 67-year-old man who had undergone total gastrectomy because of gastric cancer. The operative findings included a tumor the size of a child's head was attached to the S-colon. We resected the tumor and made a diagnosis of duplication of the S-colon. The preoperative diagnosis of alimentary tract duplication is difficult. This potential diagnosis should be borne in mind for a patient who complains of abdominal symptoms with an unknown cause.