Case Report
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2007; 13(15): 2263-2265
Published online Apr 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i15.2263
A primary intestinal lymphangiectasia patient diagnosed by capsule endoscopy and confirmed at surgery: A case report
You-Hong Fang, Bing-Ling Zhang, Jia-Guo Wu, Chun-Xiao Chen
You-Hong Fang, Bing-Ling Zhang, Chun-Xiao Chen, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Jia-Guo Wu, Sir Run Run Shaw hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Chun-Xiao Chen, Department of gastroenterlogy, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, #79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. chcx@zj139.com
Telephone: +86-571-87236628 Fax: +86-571-87236628
Received: December 5, 2006
Revised: February 2, 2007
Accepted: March 26, 2007
Published online: April 21, 2007
Abstract

Intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL) is a rare disease characterized by dilated lymphatic vessles in the intestinal wall and small bowel mesentery which induce loss of protein and lymphocytes into bowel lumen. Because it most often occurs in the intestine and cannot be detected by upper gastroendoscopy or colonoscopy, and the value of common image examinations such as X-ray and computerized tomography (CT) are limited, the diagnosis of IL is difficult, usually needing the help of surgery. Capsule endoscopy is useful in diagnosing intestinal diseases, such as IL. We here report a case of IL in a female patient who was admitted for the complaint of recurrent edema accompanied with diarrhea and abdominal pain over the last twenty years, and aggravated ten days ago. She was diagnosed by M2A capsule endoscopy as a primary IL and confirmed by surgical and pathological examination.

Keywords: Intestinal lymphangiectasia; Capsule endoscopy; Hypoproteinemia; Lymphocytopenia; Edema; Surgery