Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding poses a diagnostic challenge to the physician. When examination of the colon and the upper gastrointestinal tract reveals no definite bleeding source, the small bowel becomes the focus of investigation. The small bowel is difficult to investigate endoscopically because of its extraordinary length, but the recent advent of double-balloon enteroscopy has made it possible to examine this section of the gastrointestinal tract thoroughly, which should increase the diagnostic yield [1]
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[5]. We present here the first reported case of a jejunal lymphangioma diagnosed by double-balloon enteroscopy.
A 75-year-old woman was admitted for the management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and microcytic anemia. She had a history of tarry stools and exercise intolerance for 2 years. Esophagogastroduodenoscopic and colonoscopic examinations had been performed elsewhere and had revealed no definite bleeding source. One month before admission to our unit, repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopy in our hospital revealed reflux esophagitis and atrophic gastritis and repeat colonoscopy revealed small diverticula in the ascending and transverse colon without any evidence of active bleeding.
After admission, a technetium-labeled red blood cell scan suggested possible active bleeding in the jejunum. Push-type enteroscopy was performed to the level of 90 cm beyond the ligament of Treitz but did not reveal a bleeding source. Small-bowel barium radiography and computed tomographic scans of the abdomen and pelvis were negative. The patient underwent double-balloon enteroscopy (Fujinon EN-450P5/20; Fujinon Corp., Saitama, Japan) under midazolam sedation. This examination revealed a circumferential lesion extending over a 4-cm-long segment in the distal jejunum with yellowish thickened mucosal folds in a cobblestone configuration, covered with fresh blood clot (Figure [1]). Histological examination of a biopsy specimen showed dilated lymphatic channels in the lamina propria.
For further management of chronic bleeding, she underwent a laparoscopy-assisted operation, when a submucosal tumor measuring 6 cm × 4 cm was found 200 cm proximal to the ileocecal junction (Figure [2], [3]). Histopathological examination of the tumor revealed a lymphangioma involving both the mucosa and the submucosa (Figure [4]). The patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged 1 week after surgery. She has been symptom-free since then.
Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CCL_1AC_2AC
Figure 1 Enteroscopic view of the jejunal tumor: a circumferential lesion with thickened mucosal folds and coated with blood clot was observed in a segment of the distal jejunum.
Figure 2 Laparoscopic view of the jejunal tumor: a 4-cm segment of jejunum with an uneven serosal surface was noted 200 cm proximal to the ileocecal junction.
Figure 3 The mucosal aspect of the jejunal tumor. There was circumferential thickening of the mucosal folds, with a cobblestone appearance and a variegated color pattern.
Figure 4 Histopathological view of the tumor. Dilated lymphatic channels were noted within the mucosa and submucosa, with some lymphocytes mixed with the lymph in the spaces (hematoxylin and eosin stain, × 20 magnification).
