Usefulness of virtual enteroscopy for the detection of small polypoid lesion in the small bowel, a case report

INTRODUCTION: Virtual enteroscopy (VE) has been developed to explore the entire small bowel. We have previously reported that VE can reveal elevated lesions measuring >10 mm in diameter. However, data on the existence of smaller polypoid lesions is scarce. This study aimed to report a case of pyogenic granuloma in the ileum detected by VE. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 55-year-old woman presented to our hospital with iron deficiency anemia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography did not indicate any bleeding sources. Video capsule endoscopy revealed a small polypoid lesion in the small bowel. VE was subsequently performed and a polypoid lesion was detected at 119 cm from the ileocecal valve. Its size was estimated to be 6 mm. Based on VE findings, laparoscopic-assisted surgery for the small bowel tumor was performed. During surgery, the polypoid lesion, at 120 cm from the end of the ileum, was barely palpable. The resected specimen showed a 5.5 × 5.0 mm polypoid lesion. Microscopically, the polypoid lesion was diagnosed as pyogenic granuloma. DISCUSSION: We detected a 5.5 × 5.0 mm polypoid lesion in the small bowel, and this is the minimum size of the lesion visualized on VE. This imaging technique provides surgeons with data on the location, number, and size of polypoid lesions. CONCLUSION: VE is a new useful tool for the preoperative collection of data on small polypoid lesions in the small bowel.