In two similar cases of irreducible intussusception with wall necrosis and perforation, symptoms had begun 24 h before admission and the plain radiographs showed signs of small-bowel obstruction. The sonographic (US) appearances, however, were different: color Doppler (CD) US showed vascular flow in the intussuscepted bowel in one case and no flow in the other. After radio-clinical assessment, both children underwent surgery and an intestinal resection had to be performed, manual reduction being impossible. The reliability of the US findings and the prognostic value of CD and power Doppler US in determining the viability of the intussuscepted bowel are discussed with a review of the literature.

We present a 7-month-old boy with a giant abdominoscrotal hydrocoele associated with right leg oedema. US revealed an abdominoscrotal fluid-filled mass with a normal testis in the scrotum. MRI allowed precise delineation of the mass while MRA sequences showed extrinsic compression of the right iliac vein and its patency. Hydrocoelectomy and laparotomy were performed and confirmed the diagnosis. US followed by MRI are often necessary to diagnose and delineate giant hydrocoeles. MRA is a non-invasive elegant tool for the detection of vascular complications.