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©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2009; 15(14): 1769-1770
Published online Apr 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1769
Published online Apr 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1769
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to a rectal leiomyoma
Giovanni D De Palma, Maria Rega, Stefania Masone, Saverio Siciliano, Marcello Persico, Francesca Salvatori, Francesco Maione, Dario Esposito, Antonio Bellino, Giovanni Persico, Department of Surgery and Advanced Technologies, Center for Technical Innovation in Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, School of Medicine, Via Pansini 5, Naples 80131, Italy
Author contributions: All the authors contributed to ideation, drafting, and revision of text and composition of figures and research of references.
Correspondence to: Giovanni D De Palma, Professor, Department of Surgery and Advanced Technologies, Center for Technical Innovation in Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, School of Medicine, Via Pansini 5, Naples 80131, Italy. giovanni.depalma@unina.it
Telephone: +39-81-7462773
Fax: +39-81-7462752
Received: November 26, 2008
Revised: February 11, 2009
Accepted: February 18, 2009
Published online: April 14, 2009
Revised: February 11, 2009
Accepted: February 18, 2009
Published online: April 14, 2009
Abstract
The occurrence of leiomyoma of the rectum is uncommon. Most of these lesions are clinically silent and are found incidentally during laparotomy or endoscopic procedures for unrelated conditions. Symptomatic leiomyomas of the rectum are encountered less frequently, with only sporadic reports in the literature. We describe a case of a leiomyoma of the rectum presenting as recurrent lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage and secondary anemia.
Keywords: Rectal leiomyoma; Gastrointestinal bleeding; Endoscopy; Endoscopic ultrasonography; Immunohistochemistry