# Neuroendocrine tumor arising in Meckel’s diverticulum presenting with bowel obstruction

**Authors:** Jillian C Dawley, James H McClenathan, Belinda L Sun

PMC · DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjag025 · Journal of Surgical Case Reports · 2026-01-30

## TL;DR

A 66-year-old man with a neuroendocrine tumor in his Meckel’s diverticulum presented with bowel obstruction, highlighting the risk of malignancy in this anatomical site.

## Contribution

This case emphasizes the importance of resecting symptomatic or incidentally found Meckel’s diverticulum due to its high risk of neuroendocrine tumors.

## Key findings

- A well-differentiated grade 1 neuroendocrine tumor was found in the Meckel’s diverticulum.
- The tumor was pathologically staged as pT2, indicating localized disease.
- The case underscores the potential for malignancy even in small tumors at this site.

## Abstract

Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) is a common developmental abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract that, in adults, is usually asymptomatic but can present with complications including malignancy. Although malignancy in MD is rare overall, MD is recognized a high-risk site for tumorigenesis compared to the surrounding ileum. Neuroendocrine neoplasms are the most common malignancy arising in MD and are often associated with nodal metastases, even if the primary tumor is small. We report the case of a 66-year-old male who underwent exploratory laparotomy for small bowel obstruction and was intraoperatively found to have MD causing an internal hernia. Pathologic examination of the diverticulectomy specimen revealed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor, grade 1, pathologic stage pT2. The case highlights the role of resection for incidentally found and symptomatic MD due to the elevated risk of malignancy at this site.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** bowel obstruction (MONDO:0004565), neuroendocrine tumor (MONDO:0019496), malignancy (MONDO:0004992)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** small bowel obstruction (MESH:D007409), developmental abnormality of (MESH:D006130), Neuroendocrine neoplasms (MESH:D009369), Neuroendocrine tumor (MESH:D018358), hernia (MESH:D006547), nodal metastases (MESH:D009362), bowel obstruction (MESH:D012778), MD (MESH:D008467)

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

10 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12856947/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12856947