Arteriovenous Malformation in Chronic Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Abstract

Arteriovenous malformations of the gastrointestinal tract are uncommon and treatment is problematic because routine barium contrast studies and endoscopy fail to demonstrate the lesion. Diagnosis is by selective mesenteric arteriography, demonstrating a characteristic vascular tuft and very early venous phase. Two cases of arteriovenous malformation are presented and 47 other reported cases are reviewed. Forty-five per cent were found in the cecum; 37, or 80%, involved the distal ileum, cecum ascending colon, or hepatic flexure. Seventy-five per cent of all patients fall into the 50--80 year age range. The literature reveals a recurring pattern of chronic gastrointestinal blood loss, anemia, and delay (even negative abdominal explorations) before the diagnosis is finally made. A more aggressive approach to chronic gastrointestinal bleeding is suggested through the use of selective mesenteric arteriography.

Gastrointestinal Angiodysplasia in Three Saudi Children

“…Data are scarce in infants and children, and to our knowledge, these are the first case reports among Saudi children. As with upper tract lesions, very young subjects with colonic angiodysplasia have also been described 9. Angiodysplasia may present with maroon-colored stool, melena, and hematochasia as in Case 1 and 3 or hematenesis as in Case 2.…”

Imaging Diagnosis—jejunal Vascular Malformation in a Dog

“…In people the current diagnostic technique of choice for gastrointestinal vascular malformation is endoscopy 13,16 . In patients with chronic gastrointestinal bleeding, barium studies often fail to demonstrate the lesion 13,17 and while diagnosis by selective mesenteric angiography can be successful, it is an invasive procedure. Active bleeding can be localized by nuclear scintigraphy, but the nature of the lesion cannot be accurately determined 18 .…”

Ileo-caecal arterio-venous malformation associated with extrahepatic portal hypertension: a case report

“…In the literature, most AVMs occur in the cecum or right colon, the jejunum being the next most common site [2,3,5]. Especially, it is interesting that mesenteric arterio-venous malformation would cause portal hypertension and gastrointestinal variceal bleedings [6][7][8].…”