Intestinal neurofibromatosis in von Recklinghausen's disease: presenting as chronic anemia due to recurrent intestinal hemorrhage

Korean J Intern Med. 1992 Jul;7(2):137-42. doi: 10.3904/kjim.1992.7.2.137.

Abstract

Neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen's disease) is a neuroectodermal disorder characterized by pigmentary changes of the skin (café-au-lait spots), cutaneous and visceral tumors (neurofibromas) and systemic abnormalities. The involvement of gastrointestinal tract in neurofibromatosis is not common. The most common symptoms, refer able to lesions in the gut, are hematemesis, melena and abdominal pain. We experienced a case of intestinal neurofibroma in von Recklinghausen's disease. The patient was a 39 year-old female who had suffered from chronic iron deficiency anemia and recurrent gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to two neurofibromas of jejunum for 3 years, which was diagnosed by superior mesenteric and ileal arteriogram and 99mTc pertechnetate-labelled RBC scan, and treated by segmental resection of jejunum with end to end anastomosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anemia, Hypochromic / diagnostic imaging
  • Anemia, Hypochromic / etiology*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage* / complications
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage* / diagnostic imaging
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Jejunal Neoplasms / complications*
  • Jejunal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Jejunal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Mesenteric Artery, Superior / diagnostic imaging
  • Neurofibromatoses / complications*
  • Neurofibromatoses / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiography
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Recurrence
  • Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m

Substances

  • Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m