Solitary jejunal cavernous hemangioma causing intermittent melena: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Hemangioma of the small intestine is a rare disease that causes acute and chronic intestinal bleeding and is difficult to diagnose before surgery. This report presents a case of a cavernous hemangioma confined to the jejunum of a man with intermittent melena. CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old man presented with an episode of melena one and a half month ago. He had similar symptoms a year ago and had undergone esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and abdominopelvic computed tomography, but the results were normal. Abdominopelvic computed tomography performed after hospitalization showed a small intraluminal protruding mass in the jejunum. A jejunal hemangioma was found during laparoscopy and was successfully treated with intestinal resection. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: It is difficult to identify the cause of gastrointestinal bleeding preoperatively in patients with normal esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and abdominopelvic computed tomography results. Small bowel tumors, especially small hemangiomas, should be considered as a cause. Laparoscopy may be one option for finding and treating lesions of the small intestine in hospitals where capsule endoscopy or double-balloon intestinal enteroscopy is not available. CONCLUSION: This report presents a case of a cavernous hemangioma localized in the jejunum of a 38-year-old man with intermittent melena that was successfully treated with laparoscopy and intestinal resection, thereby emphasizing the usefulness of laparoscopy in hospitals where capsule endoscopy or double-balloon intestinal enteroscopy is not available.