Life-threatening lower gastrointestinal bleeding due to arteriovenous malformation in the jejunum in a patient with non-hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

In hematopoietic malignancies, the cause of bleeding from gastrointestinal system (GIS) can be multifactorial, such as infiltration of the hematopoietic disease, mucosal changes due to bone marrow suppression and chemotherapy, infections, and peptic ulcers. Arteriovenous malformations of the gastrointestinal tract are an unusual cause. Acute massive hematochezia is one of the greatest diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for the physician. It is a complex problem that requires disciplined and careful evaluation for successful management. Prompt colonoscopy for acute lower gastrointestinal (LGI) bleeding can be performed with a high rate of success for localizing, and sometimes treating the cause of LGI bleeding. The role of prompt esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy for upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is well defined.,However, enteroscopy can also provide both diagnosis and therapy for patients with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Here we present a case with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who had a life-threatening GIS bleeding due to an arteriovenous malformation.