SOLITARY CAVERNOUS HEMANGIOMA OF THE DUODENUM - REPORT OF A CASE

Vascular lesions of the duodenum, including hemangioma, are rare cause s of gastrointestinal bleeding. We herein describe a 52-year-old woman with a solitary cavernous hemangioma of the duodenum that caused chro nic gastrointestinal bleeding, Repeated upper gastrointestinal endosco py and a barium meal study revealed a solitary vascular tumor in the f ourth portion of the duodenum, although the initial investigations inc luding selective angiography were unsuccessful. A wedge resection of t he duodenum was performed and microscopical examination showed a caver nous hemangioma, Vascular lesions should therefore also be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with gastrointestinal bleedi ng of unknown origin.