title: Dieulafoy lesion: CT diagnosis of this lesser-known cause of gastrointestinal bleeding.
abstract: A Dieulafoy lesion describes a tortuous, submucosal artery in the gastrointestinal tract--most commonly the posterior stomach--that penetrates through the mucosa over time, eventually perforating to cause severe gastrointestinal bleeding. Due to its insidious onset, tendency to cause intermittent but severe bleeding, and difficulty of endoscopic diagnosis, Dieulafoy lesion has a very high mortality rate. Although originally thought not to be a radiologically diagnosable entity, Dieulafoy lesions can be seen at enhanced CT of the abdomen. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of Dieulafoy lesions with a focus on diagnostic findings at enhanced CT imaging.
authors.affiliation: Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: dibatouli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batouli
authors.affiliation: Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kazemi
authors.affiliation: Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.affiliation: Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.affiliation: Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Midian
authors.affiliation: Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lupetin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D012873:Skin Diseases, Genetic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*