[Diffuse intestinal polyangiomatosis as a cause of recurrent intestinal hemorrhage. Report of an unusual case]

We observed a 38-year-old Italian male with recurrent intestinal bleeding and consecutive iron-deficient anemia. For search of the source of bleeding intensive clinical, endoscopic and radiological investigations had been performed. Multiple malformations of superior mesenteric artery with abnormal vascularisation of jejunum and ileum were established angiographically. In addition the lumen of small bowel loops was dilated and enlarged mucosa folds were found. Because of a prominent vascularized area in the cecum a resection of the right hemicolon had been performed with consecutive death of the patient. The post mortem investigation revealed dilated mesenteric arteries, multiple cavernous hemangiomata in the mesenterium, in the wall of the small bowel and solitary in the large bowel. Additionally angiodysplasias, phlebectasias, lymphangiectasias, and lymphangiomata in the large bowel and in the mesenterium were found. "Diffuse intestinal polyangiomatosis" is the proposed term of the syndrome consisting of recurrent intestinal bleeding and multiple intestinal vascular malformations.