S3453 Cavernous Hemangioma: A Rare Cause of Massive Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors that rarely occur in the gastrointestinal tract. However, only 37 cases of small intestine hemangioma were reported from 2000 to 2018. Small bowel hemangiomas may cause massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. In this report, we present a case of massive, and recurrent lower GI bleeding caused by a cavernous hemangioma of the small intestine. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 32-year-old man came to the ER frequent episodes of large bloody bowel movements with a drop of Hb level, and he was transferred to MICU. The upper and lower endoscopy showed a large amount of blood with clots throughout the colon with no source of bleeding. A massive transfusion (of a total of 34 units) was given. Surgery and interventional radiology recommended Superior mesenteric artery arteriography, which demonstrated brisk bleeding from a jejunal branch overlying the left upper quadrant. Embolization of the bleeding jejunal branch was performed. A few days after, the patient developed other episodes of rectal bleeding. Capsule endoscopy revealed active small bowel bleeding, originating most likely from the proximal and mid-small intestine. Small intestine resection was performed, and the specimen analysis showed a cavernous hemangioma, measuring 1.2 × 1 × 0.8 cm. DISCUSSION: Hemangiomas are benign vascular neoplasms that can appear anywhere in the body, including the GIT, and it is considered as 0.05% of all gastrointestinal tumors. The jejunum is the most common site of occurrence. Hemangiomas may be solitary or multiple. Multiple hemangiomas are usually associated with the presence of similar lesions in other organs, such as liver and skin. Hemangiomas of GIT typically originate from the submucosal vascular plexus and extend from the submucosa to the muscular layer of the intestinal wall and they may extend beyond the serosa, involving the mesenteric, retroperitoneal, or pelvic fat. Histologically, hemangiomas classified into capillary, cavernous, and mixed. Initial investigations usually include upper and lower endoscopy. However, in most cases, these investigations are normal. CT angiography, MRI, radionuclide imaging, selective angiography, double-balloon enteroscopy, and capsule endoscopy could be used to identify the lesion. Surgical resection has conventionally been used for the treatment of intestinal hemangiomas. In recent years, less invasive therapeutic interventions, such as non-surgical endoscopic treatment and minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, have become more common.