Case Report
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2007; 13(43): 5771-5774
Published online Nov 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i43.5771
Massive gastrointestinal bleeding: An unusual case of asymptomatic extrarenal, visceral, fibromuscular dysplasia
Paula Andrea Rodriguez Urrego, Mark Flanagan, Wilson S Tsai, Craig Rezac, Nicola Barnard
Paula Andrea Rodriguez Urrego, Nicola Barnard, Department of Pathology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, United States
Mark Flanagan, Craig Rezac, Department of Surgery, RWJMS-UMDNJ, United States
Wilson S Tsai, Department of Heart, Lung and Esophageal Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, United States
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Pathology Department RWJMS-UMDNJ, United States
Correspondence to: Paula Andrea Rodriguez Urrego, Pathology Department, New Brunswick NJ 08901, One Robert Wood Johnson PL. MEB 212, United States. rodrigp2@umdnj.edu
Telephone: +1-908-7204531 Fax: +1-732-4188445
Received: June 4, 2007
Revised: August 25, 2007
Accepted: October 20, 2007
Published online: November 21, 2007
Abstract

Extrarenal fibromuscular dysplasia causing gastro-intestinal bleeding without other manifestations and especially sparing renal vasculature is uncommon. The diagnosis of this entity is usually made by radiographic appearance and the treatment is controversial. To our knowledge only seven cases of visceral fibromuscular dysplasia as a primary manifestation of the disease have been described, symptoms range from abdominal pain to gangrene. This is the first case of visceral fibromuscular dysplasia presenting with otherwise asymptomatic gastrointestinal bleeding, without bowel necrosis or ischemic changes. We provide a review of the literature.

Keywords: Fibromuscular dysplasia; Extrarenal; Visceral; Gastrointestinal bleeding; Intimal fibroplasia