In a patient with long-standing iron deficiency anemia, diffuse gastric antral vascular
ectasia was found endoscopically. Diagnostic problems were the misinterpretation of
the macroscopic finding as hemorrhagic inflammation and the microscopic confirmation
of the diagnosis from small biopsy particles. Resection of the antrum resulted in
a persistent normalization of hematologic parameters. Focal ischemia due to microthrombi
in mucosal vessels might be the cause of the tendency of this vascular malformation
to bleed.
Diffuse gastric antral vascular ectasia - Chronic gastrointestinal hemorrhage
