A diagnostic dilemma of acute abdomen in pregnancy: Leiomyoma of the small intestine.

Abstract

Small intestinal tumours are rare and difficult to diagnose. This neoplasms may be responsible for haemorrhage, occlusion, perforation and subsequent emergent surgeries. A 28 year old G2P1 woman in her 22nd week of pregnancy was referred to our emergency department with a complaint of left lower abdominal pain that had begun the day before. She underwent an emergent laparotomy with the general surgeons. Histopathological examination defined the diagnosis of leiomyoma of the small intestine. Gastrointestinal pathologies should always be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen in pregnancy.