Dieulafoy's lesion : an obscure cause of GI bleeding

• Published in: Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 222 - 225
• Main Authors: AL-MISHLAB, T, AMIN, A. M, ELLUL, J. P. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 01.08.1999
• Subjects: Arteriovenous Malformations - complications; Arteriovenous Malformations - diagnosis; Biological and medical sciences; Electrocoagulation; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - etiology; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - therapy; Humans; Male; Malformations; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Stomach, duodenum, intestine, rectum, anus; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the digestive system; Human; Endoscopic surgery; Prognosis; Pathogenesis; Cardiovascular disease; Review; Epidemiology; Dieulafoy disease; Incidence; Vascular disease; Treatment; Digestive diseases; Complication; Diagnosis; Localization; Hematemesis; Gastric disease
• ISSN: 0035-8835; 1365-2877

Dieulafoy's lesion is an uncommon cause of major gastrointestinal bleeding and may be difficult to recognise. It consists of an arteriole that protrudes through a tiny mucosal defect, usually within 6 cm of the gastroesophageal junction on the lesser curve of the stomach. Similar lesions have also been described in the distal oesophagus, small intestine, colon, and rectum. Awareness of the condition and experience in endoscopy are the mainstay of diagnosis. Therapeutic endoscopy is the first line of treatment. It is safe, effective and has very good long term results.