Unusual partners: a rare cause of small bowel bulges and a common cause of anemia.

Abstract

A 67-year-old female, without prior medical history, presented to the emergency department due to dizziness and asthenia, where iron deficiency anemia, without visible blood loss, was identified. A previous abdominal computed tomography revealed intestinal pneumatosis of the proximal jejunum and right colon. The upper endoscopy showed non-atrophic gastritis associated with H.pylori infection, which was treated, and the colonoscopy revealed right colic pneumatosis, without other alterations. A small bowel capsule endoscopy was performed, revealing bulging areas of the intestinal wall, lymphangiectasias and angioectasias, in the proximal small bowel. A single balloon assisted anterograde enteroscopy reached the proximal jejunum, showing several areas of bulging with endoscopically normal mucosa, compatible with intestinal pneumatosis. In 3 bulging areas, there were multiple lymphangiectasias and friable punctate angioectasias, which were treated with argon-plasma coagulation and through-the-scope clip with haemostatic success. The procedure was uneventful. After 6 months of follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic, without anemia or iron deficiency.