GASTRIC ANTRAL VASCULAR ECTASIA - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

We present an 83-yr-old woman with a history of renal insufficiency, d iabetes and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who experienced recurrent hemorrhage from gastric antral vascular ectasias (GAVE), Met hods: Extensive evaluation consisting of barium small bowel series, co lonoscopy, abdominal CT scan and visceral angiography excluded other c auses of bleeding, Results: After Tc-99m-labeled red cell imaging to l ocalize the bleeding to the antrum, an antrectomy was performed. Seven months postsurgery, the patient experienced no further hemorrhage. Co nclusion: Tc-99m-labeled red cell scans can be used for the diagnosis of GAVE.