Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2018 Dec 13;12(3):757-764.
doi: 10.1159/000495602. eCollection 2018 Sep-Dec.

Idiopathic Pan-Colonic and Small-Intestine Varices

Peter Liptak  1 , Martin Schnierer  1 , Peter Banovcin Jr  1 , Martin Duricek  1 , Rudolf Hyrdel  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Idiopathic Pan-Colonic and Small-Intestine Varices

Peter Liptak et al. Case Rep Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Idiopathic colonic varices represent a rare source of gastrointestinal haemorrhage with a presumed incidence around 0.0007%. Herein, we present a case of idiopathic colonic and small-intestine varices. According to our knowledge, this case report is the first description of both pan-colonic and small-intestine idiopathic varices of this extent. A young male patient without any previous notable medical history was admitted to the hospital because of massive enterorrhagia with haemodynamic instability. Colonoscopy revealed massive pan-colonic varices. After stabilization, numerous diagnostic procedures were performed in order to investigate the aetiology of pan-colonic varices without any explanation of the patient's condition. In addition, capsule endoscopy revealed varices through the whole length of the small intestine. The final diagnosis was idiopathic varices of the colon and small intestine. Because of the rapid clinical stabilization, the single incident of haemorrhage and the extension of the disease, a conservative approach was chosen (venotonics and β-blockers). During the 12-month follow-up period, the patient reported no gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

Keywords: Colon; Haemorrhage; Idiopathic colonic varices; Ileum; Varices.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CT with 3-phase angiography. The white areas represent varices in the jejunum (arrows).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
CT with 3-phase angiography. The white areas represent varices in the ileum (arrows).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
CT with 3-phase angiography. The white areas represent varices in the colon ascendens and cecum (arrows).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Varices visible in the ileum during capsule endoscopy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Dina I, Braticevici CF. Idiopathic colonic varices: case report and review of literature. Hepat Mon. 2014 Jul;14((7)):e18916. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sunkara T, Caughey ME, Culliford A, Gaduputi V. Idiopathic Isolated Colonic Varices: An Extremely Rare Condition. J Clin Med Res. 2018 Jan;10((1)):63–5. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Šimeková K, Szilágyiová M, Antolová D, Laca Ľ, Polaček H, Nováková E, et al. Contribution to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Life-Threatening Parasitosis Caused by the Parasite Echinococcus multilocularis. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2017 Apr;17((4)):225–8. - PubMed
    1. Peixoto A, Silva M, Pereira P, Macedo G. Giant idiopathic pancolonic varices - a rare entity. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2016 Jun;40((3)):255–6. - PubMed
    1. Francois F, Tadros C, Diehl D. Pan-colonic varices and idiopathic portal hypertension. J Gastrointestin Liver Dis. 2007 Sep;16((3)):325–8. - PubMed

Publication types