[Simulation of a colon carcinoma: diuretic-induced ulcerative-stricturing ischemic colitis]

A 49-year-old man was admitted to hospital with lower gastro-intestinal bleeding. He complained of fatigue, weight loss and bloody stools for a few days. There was no history of abdominal pain, but he had irregular bowel movements for some weeks with alternating constipation and diarrhea. He regularly took furosemide and ACE inhibitors for hypertension. The abdominal investigation was unremarkable.

Laboratory investigations showed a significant anemia (Hb 6,3 g/dl), WBC, C-reactive protein and lactic acid were normal, carcino-embryonic antigen was 38 ng/ml and thus increased (normal value: < 5 ng/ml). Colonoscopy revealed a circular stricturing and ulcerating tumor at 70 cm, which looked highly suspicious for malignancy and could not be passed endoscopically. Biopsies showed high-grade dysplasia and colon contrast x-ray confirmed a stricturing tumor.

Laparotomy was performed for a bleeding colon carcinoma. However, besides multiple inflammatory-stenosing strictures of different parts of the right colon, no tumor was found. Perfusion of the small and large bowel was normal. A right colectomy was performed and multiple deep ulcerations and strictures were found inside the resected colon. A cecal ulceration was the origin of the bleeding. After stopping furosemide intake no further bleeding or colonic ulceration occurred.

This is an unusual case of drug related non-occlusive, ulcerative-stricturing, ischemic colitis, masquerading as colonic cancer. Although diuretic-induced non-occlusive ischemic colitis is a very rare finding, it should be taken into account in young patients with ischemic colitis, when other risk factors have been excluded and intake of diuretics is reported.