Rectal Arteriovenous Malformation Treated by Transcatheter Arterial Embolization

Abstract

An 86-year-old man who presented with frequent hematochezia with mild anemia on blood tests was admitted to our hospital. Colonoscopy exhibited a submucosal tumor-like lesion in the lower rectum. CT and MRI showed blood flow into the lesion, but not tumor component. Angiography of the superior rectal artery and left internal iliac artery showed vascular hyperplasia and nidus. Thus, rectal arteriovenous malformation was diagnosed. If bleeding from arteriovenous malformation was out of control, surgical resection was necessary. However, due to the age of the patient, we performed transcatheter arterial embolization and abdominoperineal resection was not needed. Embolization from the left superior rectal artery, middle rectal artery and inferior rectal artery was performed to control the bleeding and to avoid surgery. After embolization, he was followed up for 10 months in our hospital without recurrence.

Keywords: Arteriovenous malformation; Hematochezia; Interventional radiology; Transcatheter embolization.