Case report: vascular anomaly in Dieulafoy's disease

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Vascular Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Dieulafoy's disease is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Vascular anomalies can present as obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, posing diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

• A young man presented with severe gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Initial diagnostic attempts including endoscopy and laparotomy were unsuccessful in identifying the source.

Findings:

• Coeliac and selective left gastric angiography successfully diagnosed a vascular anomaly consistent with Dieulafoy's disease.
• Surgical resection of the affected gastric area led to successful treatment.

Implications:

• Advanced angiography is crucial for diagnosing rare vascular lesions like Dieulafoy's disease when other methods fail.
• This case highlights the importance of considering vascular anomalies in unexplained gastrointestinal hemorrhage.