[A rare cause of rectal hemorrhage in children: rectal angiodysplasia].

BACKGROUND

Parietal vascular malformations of the intestinal tract are rare and their diagnosis is often difficult.

CASE REPORT

A 2 year-old boy had suffered from intermittent rectal bleeding since the age of one year. Endoscopic examination showed unspecific congestive changes and biopsy showed features of chronic inflammatory changes in the rectum. Barium enema was normal. The patient was operated on, but surgery failed to find any cause for these hemorrhages. Rectal bleedings recurred, some of them resulting in severe anemia. Two further endoscopic examination were grossly negative as was inferior mesenteric arteriography. Spontaneous rectal prolapsus occurred when the boy was 4 years old. This allowed resection of all the submucosal veins of the anal canal; it was followed by complete cessation of rectal bleeding with a follow-up of 36 months. Histological examination showed several ectasias of the capillaries and veins in the submucosa and muscular layers.

CONCLUSION

Angiectases can occur in a small part of the intestinal tract, and can escape detection by repeated specialized investigation.