GIANT-CELL PHLEBITIS AS A CAUSE OF LARGE INTESTINAL STRICTURE

Although arteritis of the gastrointestinal tract is well known, an iso lated phlebitis without associated arteritis of the colon and cecum is rare. We describe a distinct form of giant cell phlebitis in a 16-yea r-old girl causing ischemic stricture of the large intestine. She pres ented with subacute intestinal obstruction and was suspected of suffer ing from tuberculosis. However, histopathologic examination showed gia nt cell phlebitis, the arterioles and arteries being spared. Although this is an extremely rare form of nonprogressive vasculitis, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of strictures in the larg e intestine, especially in the young.