Ileal cavernous haemangioma in an adult presenting as a rare cause of small bowel obstruction

Abstract

Haemangiomas of the small bowel are a very rare entity and rarely considered as an aetiology for an intestinal obstruction. Contrast-enhanced CT is the investigation of choice but the lesion can be confused with malignancy or rarely a neuroendocrine tumour. Commonly it presents as abdominal pain with anaemia and/or melaena. With patients presenting without obstruction or acute gastrointestinal bleed, capsule endoscopy has shown to be a useful diagnostic tool.We present here our experience of managing a case of a patient with ileal haemangioma who presented with a subacute small bowel obstruction and underwent a laparoscopic-assisted ileal segmental resection with side-to-side anastomosis. The lesion was a cavernous haemangioma on histopathological analysis.

Keywords: GI bleeding; endoscopy; gastrointestinal surgery; gastrointestinal system.