title: A rare case of iron-deficiency anemia rapidly progressing to a life-threatening event.
abstract: Giant colonic diverticula are extremely rare; however, they should be considered in a patient with a history or susceptibility to diverticular disease because of the nonspecific presentation and life-threatening complications. Giant colonic diverticula often are overlooked because of their nonspecific gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, leading to complications of obstruction, perforation, abscess formation, and sepsis. A rare and unusual presentation of a giant colonic diverticulum is the development of a bezoar. This case describes a patient whose GI bleeding led to the diagnosis of a giant colonic diverticulum with a bezoar.
authors.affiliation: At the time this article was written, Caleb K. Schwieterman was a student in the PA program at Marietta (Ohio) College. Michael D. Sarap is chief of surgery at Southeastern Med in Cambridge, Ohio. Jennifer Childers is an assistant professor in the PA program at West Liberty (W.Va.) University. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
authors.forename: Caleb K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Schwieterman
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Sarap
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Childers
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D043963:Diverticulosis, Colonic; D004241:Diverticulum, Colon; D005547:Foreign Bodies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans