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16 Y/O Female with "Watermelon Stomach"?
Amandeep Singh1, Anwaar A Khan2, Robert Krall2
1Department of Medicine, Olean General Hospital, Olean, NY, USA ; Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Case Reports in Medicine
|August 13, 2015
Summary
Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), or watermelon stomach, is rarely seen in adolescents. This case highlights an unusual presentation of GAVE in a 16-year-old female, emphasizing the need for awareness.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), also known as watermelon stomach (WS), is an uncommon cause of gastrointestinal bleeding.
- It typically affects middle-aged females but can present atypically.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of GAVE in an unusually young patient.
- To discuss the diagnostic challenges and management considerations for GAVE in adolescents.
Main Methods:
- A case report of a 16-year-old female presenting with upper abdominal pain.
- Diagnostic workup included physical examination, laboratory tests, and upper endoscopy.
- Histology of endoscopic findings was equivocal.
Main Results:
- Upper endoscopy revealed linear striae in the gastric antrum, suggestive of GAVE.
- The patient was unusually young for a GAVE diagnosis.
- No anemia was detected, leading to clinical monitoring.
Conclusions:
- GAVE is an important, albeit uncommon, cause of GI bleeding that can occur in younger individuals.
- Early recognition and diagnosis are crucial for timely management.
- This case underscores the importance of considering GAVE even with atypical presentations and in younger populations.