Pyogenic granuloma of the small bowel

Abstract

A 61-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of melena and progressive anemia requiring transfusion. He was on hemodialysis because of diabetic nephropathy. Although upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy, and a computed tomography (CT) scan were all normal, a subsequent capsule endoscopy revealed a tumor and blood in the middle part of the small intestine (● Video 1). Because both anterograde and retrograde single-balloon enteroscopy failed to reach the tumor and repeated transfusions were necessary, a laparoscopy was performed. The lesion was easily identified during surgery as it had caused a small-bowel intussusception (● Fig.1). The resected specimen showed a mulberry-like semipedunculated polyp 1.5cm in diameter (● Fig.2). Histological study revealed that the tumor was composed of a proliferation of capillaries with a dense inflammatory cell infiltrate in the lamina propria, consistent with a pyogenic granuloma (● Fig.3). The patient’s anemia has improved and his clinical course has been uneventful since the surgery. Pyogenic granuloma, also known as lobular capillary hemangioma, is a benign vascular tumor of the skin and mucous membrane, usually arising on the extremities and oral mucosa. The nomenclature is misleading because pyogenic granuloma is unrelated to bacterial infection, although its real etiology is unknown. Possible triggers include mechanical injury and pregnancy, but drug-induced pyogenic granuloma has also been reported [1,2]. As pyogenic granulomas bleed repeatedly and spontaneous regression is exceptional, surgical removal is a standard approach. Pyogenic granuloma of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare condition: to date, less than 30 cases have been reported in the English literature [3–5]. Although they occur throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract, the small intestine is the commonest site, followed by the esophagus and the colon. Polypectomy is a reasonable option; however, the endoscopic approach is occasionally difficult in cases of small-bowel pyogenic granuloma. In some cases, despite their relatively small size (0.7–3cm in the reported cases), gastrointestinal pyogenic granulomas bleed easily and profusely. Capsule endoscopy and balloon enteroscopy may facilitate the management of small-bowel pyogenic granulomas.