Ileocecal valve lipoma with refractory hemorrhage.
BACKGROUND
Lipomas are the most common benign mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, with the colon being the most prevalent site. Intestinal lipomas are usually asymptomatic. Tumors >2 cm in diameter may occasionally cause nonspecific symptoms, including change in bowel habits, abdominal pain, or rectal bleeding, but with resection the prognosis is excellent. Herein, we describe the case of an elderly male who presented with painless hematochezia.


METHODS
Both colonoscopy and computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis confirmed the presence of a mass near the ileocecal valve. Because of continuing bleeding, the patient required laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy to resect the mass.


RESULTS
Both gross and microscopic pathology were consistent with lipoma at the ileocecal valve.


CONCLUSIONS
Previous cases of ileocecal valve lipomas have been reported in the English literature, with the majority presenting as intussusception or volvulus. We present a rare case of an ulcerated ileocecal valve lipoma presenting as lower gastrointestinal bleeding that was treated successfully with laparoscopic resection.
Dultz
Linda A
LA
Departments of Surgery and Public Health, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
Ullery
Brant W
BW
Sun
Huan Huan
HH
Huston
Tara L
TL
Eachempati
Soumitra R
SR
Barie
Philip S
PS
Shou
Jian
J
D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic; D003113:Colonoscopy; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007080:Ileocecal Valve / Q000473:pathology*; D008067:Lipoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male