Asymptomatic chronic intestinal ischemia caused by idiopathic phlebosclerosis of mesenteric vein.
Phlebosclerosis of the mesenteric vein is a rare condition causing chronic intestinal ischemia, it has only been reported in Japan. A 56-year-old man with liver cirrhosis and hepatic tumor presented with phlebosclerosis of mesenteric vein without any abdominal symptoms. He was admitted for examination of suspected hepatic tumor. Abdominal plain x-ray films and computed tomography revealed calcification of the mesenteric vein. Barium enema revealed narrowing and thumbprinting from the cecum to transverse colon. On colonoscopic examination, blue-black vessels were visible in the terminal ileum, and hyperemic nodular mucosa with small irregular ulcers surrounded by dark purple mucosa was found from the cecum to transverse colon. The etiology of mesenteric vein phlebosclerosis is unknown, although a physical mechanism rather than inflammatory changes appear to be involved in this rare and usually progressive condition of chronic intestinal ischemia.
Oshitani
Nobuhide
N
First Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, 1-4-3, Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545-8585 Japan.
Matsumura
Yoshiki
Y
Kono
Mizuki
M
Tamori
Akihiro
A
Higuchi
Kazuhide
K
Matsumoto
Takayuki
T
Seki
Shuichi
S
Arakawa
Tetsuo
T
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000098:blood supply*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012598:Sclerosis