[Ileal carcinoid tumor manifesting as gastrointestinal hemorrhage and diagnosed with capsule endoscopy: Case report]

To present a case of carcinoid tumor of the small bowel that produced hemorrhage and was identified by capsule endoscopy before surgery.

Carcinoid tumors of the small bowel are difficult to diagnose since most of them are asymptomatic and endoscopic examination by standard methods is not possible. Therefore they are rarely detected before a surgical procedure.

A review of the literature is done. Emphasis in the importance of early diagnosis due to its invasive tendency is also made.

Male patient who had 3 episodes of malena along three years before hospitalisation. During this period three upper gastrointestinal endoscopies (EGD), three colonoscopies, two small bowel scintigraphies, one mesenteric angiography and one CAT scan were done before a capsule endoscopy was performed. This procedure revealed a tumor 0.8 cm diameter in the ileum, which was surgically resected. The pathological examination revealed carcinoid tumor invading the serosa.

The carcinoid tumor is highly infiltrating, therefore early diagnose is mandatory. Since the capsule endoscopy makes possible the complete examination of the small bowel, it should be indicated in patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage in whom EGD and colonoscopy are negative.