Congenital and Developmental Abnormalities of the Small Bowel

The gastrointestinal tract, including the small bowel, begins as a solid tube. This tube elongates and hollows out, creating the lumen of the bowel. There can be arrest in the development at any stage during this process, resulting in the various congenital abnormalities. Some of these developmental arrests may be incompatible with life and present at birth or shortly afterwards. Others may not present until adulthood. Those presenting in adult life may be found because of symptoms relating to the abnormality or as an incidental finding.