Ischemic Colitis, the Great Imitator: A Mass Completely Resolved

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Ischemic colitis (IC) is the most frequent form of intestinal ischemia.
• IC presents with a wide range of severity, from mild transient episodes to severe fulminant colitis.
• Injury patterns are typically segmental, influenced by patient anatomy, ischemia duration, and reperfusion injury.

Observation:

• A unique case of IC demonstrated mass-like features on conventional imaging.
• This presentation mimicked other intra-abdominal pathologies.

Findings:

• Clinical presentation, early endoscopic evaluation, and biopsy are vital for accurate IC diagnosis.
• Endoscopy and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis in this case, despite atypical imaging findings.

Implications:

• Accurate diagnosis of IC prevents misdiagnosis and ensures appropriate management.
• Recognizing unusual imaging presentations of IC is important for clinicians.
• Emphasizes the indispensable role of endoscopy and biopsy in diagnosing challenging IC cases.