Cholesterol embolism: an unusual cause of small bowel obstruction

We describe a case of small bowel obstruction secondary to cholesterol crys tal embolism in a 83-year-old man. Clinical symptoms were dominated by weig ht loss and vomiting. Small bowel baryum X-ray displayed a short and unique stricture of the jejunum. Atheromatous embolism was suspected in the prese nce of an aortic anevrysm. At laparotomy, a 2 cm stricture of jejunum was i dentified and a 6 cm length segment of small bowel was resected. Pathologic al Features were consistent with cholesterol crystal embolism. The patient did well 3 months after surgery. This observation points out the nonspecifi c clinical presentation of gastrointestinal cholesterol embolism.