Vascular anomalies must be properly classified

Multiple venous malformations in the left colon and rectum: a long-standing case managed conservatively and an update of current literature

Venous or cavernous malformations of the colon or rectum are a rare cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeds. It has been previously described as a diffuse cavernous haemangioma which was thought to be a benign vascular tumour. It mainly affects the rectosigmoid area of the gastrointestinal tract and is most common in children and young adults. Misdiagnosis is common with patients averaging a total of 19 years delay to this final diagnosis. We report a case of a 65-year-old patient who presented with occult, painless rectal bleeding and prior to this presentation, had been managed variously as colitis and angiodysplasia. This article aims to delineate the updated classification of this disease, principal clinical clues to aid the diagnosis while discussing patient treatment options and potential challenges faced in patient management.

Gastrointestinal Infantile Hemangioma: Presentation and Management

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to document the clinical presentation, diagnostic studies, and therapy of gastrointestinal infantile hemangiomas.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of children with gastrointestinal hemangiomas culled from our Vascular Anomalies Center database. We detailed the location of visceral and cutaneous tumors, as well as radiologic and procedural methods used for diagnosis and treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 9 of the 16 children (14 girls and 2 boys) with hollow visceral hemangiomas also had cutaneous lesions. The most common extravisceral sites were regional facial lesions (n = 6), multifocal lesions (n = 2), and a solitary chest lesion (n = 1). Presenting symptoms were melena and hematochezia in the first 4 months of life (n = 14); several infants required multiple blood transfusions. The most frequent locations were small bowel and mesentery. One-half of the patients (n = 8) were diagnosed by laparotomy; the majority (n = 12) had suspicious radiologic findings. Corticosteroid and/or propranolol were the most common therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

Melena and hematochezia, sometimes with profound anemia, in the first 4 months of life, suggest the possibility of intestinal infantile hemangioma even in the absence of cutaneous tumor. Intestinal bleeding, particularly in association with a regional facial lesion, should initiate workup: ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging display diagnostic features. First-line treatment is medical management; bowel resection may be necessary, particularly for perforation.

GI-Associated Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations

Hemangiomas and vascular malformations of the gastrointestinal tract, rare clinical entities, present as overt or occult bleeding. They can be distributed throughout the intestinal digestive system, or present as a singular cavernous hemangioma or malformation, which is often located in the rectosigmoid region. Misdiagnosis is common despite characteristic radiographic features such as radiolucent phleboliths on plain film imaging and a purplish nodule on endoscopy. Adjunctive imaging such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are suggested as there is potential for local invasion. Endorectal ultrasound with Doppler has also been found to be useful in some instances. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment, with an emphasis on sphincter preservation. Nonsurgical endoscopic treatment with banding and sclerotherapy has been reported with success, especially in instances where an extensive resection is not feasible.

Epistaxis in children with vascular malformations--commentary of two cases and literature review

Vascular anomalies can cause epistaxis in children. The authors present two cases of recurrent epistaxis secondary to rare causes and discuss their presentations. Both cases were managed conservatively since intervention in these vascular lesions carries a high risk of damaging adjacent structures.