Non-small-bowel lesions detected by capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure GI bleeding

• Published in: Gastrointestinal endoscopy Vol. 62; no. 2; pp. 234 - 238
• Main Authors: Kitiyakara, Taya, MA, MBBS, MRCP, Selby, Warwick, MB, BS, MD, FRACP
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.08.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Capsules; Cecal Diseases - pathology; Cecal Neoplasms - pathology; Digestive system. Abdomen; Endoscopy; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - pathology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Semiology; Polyps - pathology; Prospective Studies; Stomach Diseases - pathology; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Human; Gastrointestinal bleeding; Capsule endoscopy; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Lesion; Small intestine
• ISSN: 0016-5107; 1097-6779
• DOI: 10.1016/S0016-5107(05)00292-0

Background Approximately two thirds of patients undergoing capsule endoscopy for obscure GI bleeding will have an abnormality found in the small intestine. This report describes 9 patients (4 men, 5 women) of 140 with obscure bleeding in whom a source of their blood loss was found in the stomach or the colon at capsule endoscopy. Methods ••• Results Three patients had gastric antral vascular ectasia and another an inflamed pyloric canal polyp. Two patients had actively bleeding cecal carcinoma, missed at previous colonoscopies. Two others had bleeding cecal angiodysplasia. The final patient had severe nonspecific cecal inflammation. The identification of these lesions was aided by the suspected blood indicator. All patients underwent endoscopic therapy or surgery for their non-small-bowel lesions. Conclusions Like push enteroscopy, capsule endoscopy also can identify lesions within reach of conventional endoscopy and colonoscopy. These subsequently can be treated successfully. The reasons why these lesions have been missed are unclear.