title: [Cholesterol embolism: unusual cause of small intestine occlusion].
abstract: We describe a case of small bowel obstruction secondary to cholesterol crystal embolism in a 83-year-old man. Clinical symptoms were dominated by weight loss and vomiting. Small bowel barrium X-ray displayed a short and unique stricture of the jejunum. Atheromatous embolism was suspected in the presence of an aortic aneurysm. At laparotomy, a 2 cm stricture of jejunum was identified and a 6 cm length segment of small bowel was resected. Pathological features were consistent with cholesterol crystal embolism. The patient did well 3 months after surgery. This observation points out the nonspecific clinical presentation of gastrointestinal cholesterol embolism.
authors.affiliation: Services d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Huriez, CHU, 59037 Lille.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lederman
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boruchowicz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lecomte-Houcke
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dewailly
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Colombel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017700:Embolism, Cholesterol / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D007579:Jejunal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male