Intestinal malrotation

All reported epidemiological statistics on rotational abnormalities are likely to dramatically underestimate the true prevalence, given that many people with incomplete rotation remain asymptomatic and are never diagnosed. Rotational abnormalities have been noted as an incidental finding in 0.2% of upper gastrointestinal contrast studies.[1]Kantor JL. Anomalies of the colon: their roentgen diagnosis and clinical significance: Resume of 10 years study. Radiology. 1934;23:651-662. This denominator is also misleading, as it selects patients with some illness given that they required such a study. Autopsy series have documented non-rotation in 0.5%.[2]Skandalakis JE, Gray SW, Ricketts R, et al. The small intestines. In: Skandalakis JE, Gray SW, eds. Embryology for surgeons, 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; 1994:184. Those who come to clinically evident presentation have been estimated as 1 in 6000 live births.[3]Byrne WJ. Disorders of the intestine and pancreas. In: Taeusch WH, Ballard RA, Avery ME, eds. Disease of the newborn. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 1991:586-693.