From Overlooked to Unveiled: A Rare Case of Focal Jejunal Lymphangiectasia Presenting as Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL) is a rare disorder characterized by dilated lymphatic vessels within the small bowel wall. Focal IL is exceptionally uncommon, with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding being a rare presentation. We report a case of a 50-year-old man presenting with recurrent melena and ch...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
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| Series: | Journal of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0045-1809654 |
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| Summary: | Intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL) is a rare disorder characterized by dilated lymphatic vessels within the small bowel wall. Focal IL is exceptionally uncommon, with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding being a rare presentation. We report a case of a 50-year-old man presenting with recurrent melena and chronic iron deficiency anemia, in whom multiple endoscopic and radiological evaluations were initially inconclusive. Capsule endoscopy identified white punctate and plaque-like mucosal changes in the mid-jejunum, prompting a retrospective review of prior computed tomographic images, which uncovered a previously overlooked focal eccentric septate hypodense jejunal lesion. Surgical resection confirmed focal IL histologically. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and a high index of clinical suspicion in the evaluation of obscure GI bleeding, as focal IL is rare and may present with subtle imaging findings that are easily missed. |
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| ISSN: | 2581-9178 |