Published online Oct 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i38.14076
Revised: April 29, 2014
Accepted: June 21, 2014
Published online: October 14, 2014
The small intestine is approximately 5-6 m long and occupies a large area in the abdominal cavity. These factors preclude the use of ordinary endoscopy and X-ray to thoroughly examine the small intestine for bleeding of vascular malformations. Thus, the diagnosis of intestinal bleeding is very difficult. A 47-year-old man presented at the hospital 5 mo ago with dark stool. Several angiomas were detected by oral approach enteroscopy, but no active bleeding was observed. Additionally, no lesions were detected by anal approach enteroscopy; however, gastrointestinal tract bleeding still occurred for an unknown reason. We performed an abdominal vascular enhanced computed tomography examination and detected ileal vascular malformations. Ileum angioma and vascular malformation were detected by a laparoscopic approach, and segmental resection was performed for both lesions, which were confirmed by pathological diagnosis. This report systemically emphasizes the imaging findings of small intestinal vascular malformation bleeding.
Core tip: A 47-year-old man presented at the hospital 5 mo ago with dark stool. Several angiomas were detected by oral approach enteroscopy, but no active bleeding was observed. Additionally, no lesion was detected by anal approach enteroscopy; however, gastrointestinal tract bleeding occurred for an unknown reason. Ileal vascular malformation was detected by abdominal vascular enhanced computed tomography, and ileal angioma and vascular malformation were detected by a laparoscopic approach. Segmental resection was performed for both lesions, which were confirmed by pathological diagnosis. This report systemically emphasizes the imaging findings of small intestinal vascular malformation bleeding.