Solitary hemangioma of the small bowel disclosed by wireless capsule endoscopy

Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2008 Jan;32(1 Pt. 1):15-8. doi: 10.1016/j.gcb.2007.11.004. Epub 2008 Mar 4.

Abstract

A nine-year-old child presented with melena and anemia. She had similar symptoms five months earlier and had undergone an extensive workup with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy, both normal and 99m-Tc-RBC-scintigraphy which was positive in the right lower quadrant. This time, capsule endoscopy was performed and disclosed an hemangioma with a dark spot suggesting recent bleeding in the ileum. The lesion was resected. Pathological examination revealed a transmural cavernous hemangioma. Small bowel hemangioma is a rare disease. Its diagnosis is extremely difficult and is usually obtained during surgery. Capsule endoscopy is an endoscopic technique that can improve preoperative diagnosis, as reported in the present case.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anemia / diagnosis
  • Capsule Endoscopy / methods*
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Ileal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Melena / diagnosis