Massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to gastritis cystica profunda

• Published in: Cases journal Vol. 1; no. 1; p. 85
• Main Authors: Itte, Vinay, Mallick, Ismail H, Moore, Peter J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Cases Network Ltd 12.08.2008; BioMed Central Ltd; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Case Report; Case studies; Complications and side effects; Diagnosis; Gastrointestinal bleeding; Gastrointestinal tumors; Risk factors; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 1757-1626; 1757-1626
• DOI: 10.1186/1757-1626-1-85

Gastritis Cystica Profunda is a well recognized entity which may occur several years after previous gastric surgery. This is a premalignant condition and may lead on to carcinoma of the stomach. We report a case of a 50-year-old man with epigastric pain and haematemesis. 28 years ago he had undergone partial gastrectomy and gastroenterostomy for benign gastric ulcer. An Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a possible bleeding vessel on the anterior wall lesser curve of the stomach. The lesion was injected with adrenaline 1 in 100,000. In spite of the intervention he continued to have haemetemesis with significant haemodynamic impairment. At exploratory laparotomy, an oedematous ridge on the posterior wall with a bleeding point on the posterior gastric wall. Histology showed features consistent with gastritis cystica profunda. He made an excellent post-operative recovery. We suggest that patients who are diagnosed with gastritis cystica profunda should be regularly followed up as this is a premalignant condition.