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ISSN 2063-5346
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Small Bowel Gastro-Intestinal Stromal Tumors Presenting as Obscure Gastrointesinal Bleeding โ€“ Importance of Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography in Obscure GI Bleeds

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Dr Sanjith Kamath N,Dr Praveen Kumar R Bhat,Dr Santosh Kumar K Y,Dr Rohith Holla,Dr Prajwal Chandrashekhara
ยป doi: 10.31838/ecb/2023.12.1.411

Abstract

Introduction, Materials and Methods: When a patient presenting with gastrointestinal (GI) bleed has no source of bleeding found on upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy it is called as obscure GI bleed. Small bowel lesions could potentially be the source of bleeding in these patients. Contrast enhanced CT (CECT) scan can identify source of obscure GI bleeds in 45- 70% cases. CECT has a higher sensitivity to identify mass lesions of small bowel. Here we present a series of 6 cases of obscure GI bleed secondary to small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) in whom CECT played an important role in diagnosis. These lesions were picked up on CT scan in all these patients and surgical resection was done in all the patients. Conclusion: CECT scan should be done in all cases of obscure GI bleed before considering for discharge when the upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy fail to show a source of bleeding.

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