Duodenal angiosarcoma can be misdiagnosed as a Dieulafoy's lesion

Abstract

Angiosarcomas are soft-tissue neoplasms that originate from the vascular epithelium. The most commonly involved sites include the skin and subcutaneous tissues. In the GI tract, generally, angiosarcomas involve the spleen and liver, although locations in the small intestine and colon have been very occasionally reported. In the present study we report the unusual case of a man with duodenal epithelioid angiosarcoma, presenting with anemia and recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which was initially misdiagnosed as a Dieulafoy's lesion. It is important to consider the diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignancy, including unusual neoplasms such as angiosarcomas, in the setting of anendoscopic appearance such as hemorrhagic nodule, purpuric mass and/or recurrent bleeding lesions that are persistent despite repeat interventions. In such cases, a biopsy should be considered to confirm the diagnosis.

Keywords: Angiosarcoma; Dieulafoy’s lesion; Duodenal.