Diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectum: case report and literature review

A rare cause of rectal bleeding in a 48-year-old lupus patient

Cavernous hemangiomas represent a rare benign cause of rectal bleeding. It corresponds to a vascular malformation that can be located anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Our paper reports the case of a 48-year-old woman treated for cutaneous lupus who presented to our department with intermittent moderate rectal bleeding. The Hemoglobin level was normal. A colonoscopy showed a congestive nodular red-purple vascular formation. At Computerized tomography (CT)-Scan, the lesion appeared as an irregular thickening of the posterior rectal wall, invading the meso-rectum. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a submucosal mass of the rectum containing phleboliths with progressive enhancement in the T2 sequence. Diagnosis of rectal cavernous hemangioma was confirmed. Surgery is the most appropriate treatment for this condition, but since bleeding was not important and had no biological repercussions, multidisciplinary experts meeting decided not to operate on the patient and continue monitoring.

Clinical Characteristics and Management of Colorectal Vascular Malformation in Children: A Retrospective Study of 23 Cases

INTRODUCTION

 The objective of this study is to summarize the clinical characteristics and management of rare diseases of colorectal vascular malformation (CRVM) in children.

METHODS

 We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of CRVM patients admitted to the Children's Hospital of Fudan University from 2004 to 2019.

RESULTS

 A total of 23 cases (16 males, 7 females) were enrolled. The median age of symptom onset was 1.4 years. Hematochezia and anemia were cardinal symptoms. Fourteen patients (60.9%) were misdiagnosed as anal fissures (n = 4), internal hemorrhoids (n = 3), rectal polyps (n = 2), inflammatory bowel disease (n = 2), portal hypertension (n = 2), and Meckel's diverticulum (n = 1), respectively. The average time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 4.5 ± 4.4 years. Other vascular malformations were detected in eight patients (34.8%). All patients showed a positive anomalous vascular image on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The sensitivity of colonoscopy in the diagnosis of CRVM was 82.6% (19/23). A total of 21 patients underwent a modified Soave procedure. The lesions were mostly restricted to the colorectum and showed transmural diffuse distribution, with an average length of 20 ± 5.4 cm. Two patients (9.5%) experienced surgical complications. Bloody stools reappeared in two patients (9.5%), and colonoscopy showed abnormal angiogenesis at the anastomotic site, which were cured by sclerotherapy and/or electrocautery. The median follow-up time was 78 months. Bloody stools were absent at the last time of follow-up, and hemoglobin was in the normal range for all patients.

CONCLUSION

 The identification of CRVM in children often is delayed. Colonoscopy, CT, and MRI are essential in making the correct diagnosis. The modified Soave procedure is safe and feasible to treat CRVM in children. Endoscopic sclerotherapy and/or electrocautery can be used for residual lesions.

Small bowel racemose hemangioma complicated with obstruction and chronic anemia: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal hemangiomas are rare benign tumors. According to the size of the affected vessels, hemangiomas are histologically classified into cavernous, capillary, or mixed-type tumors, with the cavernous type being the most common and racemose hemangiomas being very rare in the clinic. Melena of uncertain origin and anemia are the main clinical manifestations, and other presentations are rare. Due to the rarity of gastrointestinal hemangiomas and lack of specific manifestations and diagnostic methods, preoperative diagnoses are often delayed or incorrect.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a 5-year-old girl who presented with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for a duration of 10 h. The laboratory studies showed prominent anemia. Computed tomography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a small bowel obstruction caused by a giant abdominal mass. Segmental resection of the ileal lesions was performed through surgery, and the final pathology results revealed a diagnosis of racemose hemangioma complicated by a small bowel obstruction and simultaneous chronic anemia.

CONCLUSION

The current report will increase the understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal hemangiomas and provide a review of the related literature.

Mechanical intestinal obstruction due to isolated diffuse venous malformations in the gastrointestinal tract: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Isolated gastrointestinal venous malformations (GIVMs) are extremely rare congenital developmental abnormalities of the venous vasculature. Because of their asymptomatic nature, the diagnosis is often quite challenging. However, as symptomatic GIVMs have nonspecific clinical manifestations, misdiagnosis is very common. Here, we report a case of isolated diffuse GIVMs inducing mechanical intestinal obstruction. A literature review was also conducted to summarize clinical features, diagnostic points, treatment selections and differential diagnosis in order that doctors may have a comprehensive understanding of this disease.

CASE SUMMARY

A 50-year-old man presented with recurrent painless gastrointestinal bleeding for two months and failure to pass flatus and defecate with nausea and vomiting for ten days. Digital rectal examination found bright red blood and soft nodular masses 3 cm above the anal verge. Computed tomography showed that part of the descending colon and rectosigmoid colon was thickened with phleboliths in the intestinal wall. Colonoscopy exhibited bluish and reddish multinodular submucosal masses and flat submucosal serpentine vessels. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed anechoic cystic spaces within intestinal wall. The lesions were initially thought to be isolated VMs involving part of the descending colon and rectosigmoid colon. Laparoscopic subtotal proctocolectomy, pull-through transection and coloanal anastomosis and ileostomy were performed. Histopathology revealed intact mucosa and dilated, thin-walled blood vessels in the submucosa, muscularis, and serosa involving the entire colorectum. The patient recovered with complete symptomatic relief during the 52-mo follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of isolated GIVMs is challenging. The information presented here is significant for the diagnosis and management of symptoms.

Safety and Feasibility of Transanal Endoscopic Surgery for Diffuse Cavernous Hemangioma of the Rectum

Purpose

To evaluate the safety and feasibility of transanal endoscopic surgery for diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectum (DCHR).

Methods

All DCHR patients who underwent transanal endoscopic surgery in our hospital between January 2014 and June 2018 were reviewed.

Results

A total of 7 patients with a diagnosis of DCHR underwent transanal endoscopic surgery during the study period. Four patients (57.1%) were male, with a mean age at surgery of 34.5 ± 7.7 years, and three patients (42.9%) were female, with a mean age at surgery of 29.9 ± 3.8 years. Recurrent painless rectal bleeding was the main symptom in all patients. The mean age was 32 years old (range 21-54 years). The median duration of symptoms was 10 years (range 1 month-50 years). The level of hemoglobin at admission ranged from 59.0 to 148.0 g/l (mean 106.6 g/l), and the level of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) ranged from 75.1 fl to 93.5 fl (mean 83.7 fl). Colonoscopy, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were important in the diagnosis of DCHR because of their high positive rates and accurate features. All of the lesions are between the anal canal and the descending colon. Two patients could be found with some enlarged serpentine vessels in the cervix, vagina, or corpus cavernosum by MRI. After admission, all the patients underwent transanal endoscopic surgery and four patients had simultaneous loop ileostomy. The mean operative time was 278 min (range 168-400 min). The median amount of intraoperative blood loss was 50 ml (range 10-300 ml). The mean distance from anal verge to anastomosis was 2.2 ± 0.2 cm. The anastomosis was fashioned with a stapler in two patients (28.6%). There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications. All the patients continued to recover well from the surgery, and nobody needed postoperative blood transfusions.

Conclusions

The specific diagnosis rate of DCHR is low. Preoperative MRI and CT examination can make a definitive diagnosis and determine the extent of the lesions. DCHR is mostly restricted to the rectum, sigmoid colon, anal wall, and mesorectum. The best treatment for DCHR is complete lesion resection. It is safe and feasible to treat DCHR using transanal endoscopic surgery. Moreover, transanal endoscopic surgery might have a huge potential when used to treat other rectal diseases.