title: Neuromuscular and vascular hamartoma as an unusual cause of small bowel obstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuromuscular and vascular hamartoma (NMVH) is a rare, controversial lesion of the intestine, with only 23 cases reported in the English literature since its initial description in 1982.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 59year old female suffering from longstanding Crohn's disease with chronic stricture presented with symptoms of small bowel obstruction. Contrast studies demonstrated massive dilatation of the proximal small bowel. Laparotomy identified a 5cm long stenotic segment of ileum, with grossly distended jejunum and ileum proximally. Pathology determined the stricture's aetiology as a neuromuscular and vascular hamartoma of the small intestine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NMVH is a benign lesion of hamartomatous origin. Its very existence is questionable due to histological similarities with several reactive pathologies, such as Crohn's and diaphragm diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NMVH could be confused with a spectrum of chronic inflammatory bowel conditions, but this report establishes it as a distinct cause of chronic bowel obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: kristenelstner@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Kristen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Elstner
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Rohan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gett
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Pathology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Min R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Pathology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Killen
keywords: Hamartoma; Neuromuscular and vascular hamartoma; Small bowel obstruction