PubMed · 2645011
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
J Spencer. 1989. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding.. https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs.1800760103
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The incidence of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGB) is estimated to be 20-30 per 100,000 of the adult population at risk, which is clearly correlated with increasing age. The problem of LGB is identification of the bleeding source. LGB stops spontaneously in 80% of cases, but 10% of bleeding sources cannot be identified, and rebleeding occurs in 25%. The quality of LGB--hematochezia, melena, or occult bleeding--may point to the region of the bleeding source, as patient age is correlated with specific pathologies. In many patients, LGB is a leading symptom of a chronic disorder. Most acute peranal bleeding arises from the colon (80%) with colonic diverticula and angiodysplastic lesions as the most frequent reasons. In 5% of cases, LGB is caused by disorders of the small bowel, in most cases due to small-bowel tumors or to Meckel's diverticulum in younger patients. In 15-20%, acute peranal bleeding is caused by lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The intensity of LGB determines the urgency of identification of the bleeding source; however, chronic occult blood loss superimposed by melena may place the patient at risk as early as a patient with hematochezia. Therefore, prompt resuscitation is required in many LGB patients before diagnostic procedures are initiated.
A 41-year-old man attended our clinic with massive gastrointestinal bleeding due to a tumor of the small intestine. The tumor was not diagnosed until during acute laparotomy. The histological examination revealed a gastrointestinal stromal tumor with uncertain biological behaviour. The authors discuss the rare gastrointestinal stromal tumors, where preoperative diagnosis is difficult and in symptomatic forms urgent laparotomy is usually the only diagnostic method. The differential diagnosis between leiomyoma, schwannoma, mesenterial fibromatosis or intraabdominal solitary fibrous tumor as well as metastatic melanoma is not simple and immunohistochemistry plays a leading role. Prediction of biological behaviour of these tumors is also problematic and depends on the histological picture, site, size and mitotic activity.