A Vanishing Cecal Mass: A Rare Gastrointestinal Manifestation of Systemic Mastocytosis

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a heterogeneous disease that often involves the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Activation and accumulation of mast cells in GI organs can result in symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea along with organ damage with more aggressive disease. Mast cell degranulation can also result in anaphylactic reactions, which can be life-threatening. Recognition of GI manifestations is important for gastroenterologists to aid in diagnosis and management when GI involvement is suspected. Edema, small nodules, urticarial lesions and occasionally ulceration in the small bowel and colon are the most commonly described endoscopic findings. Here we describe a case of SM presenting as a large colonic mass and provide a brief review of the literature on GI involvement of SM.