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Symptomatic Meckel's Diverticulum Presenting As Recurrent Gastrointestinal Bleeding in an Adult
Abishek Hariharan1, Shefali Amin1, Salina Munankami2
1Internal Medicine, Tower Health Medical Group, West Reading, USA.
Cureus
|August 14, 2023
Summary
Recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding in a 51-year-old male was successfully diagnosed as a Meckel's diverticulum. This case emphasizes considering Meckel's diverticulum in persistent bleeding cases, even after extensive workups.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) poses a diagnostic challenge, often requiring extensive investigation.
- Standard endoscopic procedures like esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, and video capsule endoscopy (VCE) may fail to identify the bleeding source.
Observation:
- A 51-year-old male presented with persistent hematochezia despite negative results from initial endoscopic evaluations.
- A history of terminal ileum diverticulum and ongoing symptoms prompted a Meckel's scan.
- The Meckel's scan revealed abnormal uptake, indicating a potential Meckel's diverticulum with ectopic gastric mucosa.
Findings:
- Surgical resection confirmed the presence of a Meckel's diverticulum.
- Pathological examination revealed gastric heterotopia within the resected diverticulum.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering Meckel's diverticulum in the differential diagnosis of obscure GIB.
- It highlights that Meckel's diverticula, especially those with ectopic gastric mucosa, can be a source of significant bleeding and may be missed by VCE.
- Prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for managing symptomatic Meckel's diverticula.
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