Gastric Intestinal Vascular Ectasia Syndrome: Findings on Capsule Endoscopy

Introduction

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) syndrome has been recognized as an important cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage [1] [2]. Histopathologically, GAVE is characterized by superficial fibromuscular hyperplasia of the gastric antral mucosa, with capillary ectasia and microvascular thrombosis in the lamina propria. Although it is helpful to make a pathological diagnosis, the most reliable means of diagnosing GAVE and other areas of angioectasia in the gastrointestinal tract is by direct endoscopic visualization [2]. Since GAVE was first described, there have been several reports of patients with similar endoscopic findings in other regions of the gastrointestinal tract, including the cardia [3], duodenum [4], colon [5] [6], and rectum [7]. Terms such as “watermelon cecum”, “watermelon colon”, and “watermelon rectum” have been coined to describe such lesions.

We present here two patients with GAVE and anemia who we investigated using the Given M2A wireless capsule video system (Given Imaging Ltd., Yoqneam, Israel). We have described the technique of capsule endoscopy performed in our center previously and also the classification criteria for the resulting findings [8].

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