Colonic arteriovenous malformations in children: a missed cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding

Abstract

Background. Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the pediatric population.

Case Presentation. We report two female children aged 3 and 7 years old with multiple episodes of hematochezia and severe anemia who underwent computed tomography angiography. The first case demonstrated diffuse concentric wall thickening with small calcifications (phleboliths) involving the sigmoid colon and rectum. The affected segments demonstrated moderate progressive enhancement, along with an arcade of prominent vascular channels in the pericolic fat. The second case demonstrated hyperdense wall thickening involving the descending colon and proximal sigmoid colon with intense homogeneous contrast enhancement and an arcade of prominent vessels along the left colon. In both cases, the feeding arteries arose from the inferior mesenteric artery and the venous drainage was into the inferior mesenteric vein. Our first case was subjected to ligation of inferior mesenteric vascular pedicle feeding and draining the AVM, which succeeded in controlling bleeding episodes, while the second patient, who presented with relatively milder symptoms, underwent embolization therapy.

Conclusion. Vascular malformations of the bowel should be considered in pediatric age group in cases of lower gastrointestinal bleed.

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Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{luthra2026colonic,
  title = {{Colonic arteriovenous malformations in children: a missed cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding}},
  author = {Rohan Luthra and Natasha Gupta and Parveen Kumar},
  journal = {The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.24953/turkjpediatr.2026.6807},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.24953/turkjpediatr.2026.6807},
  note = {CC BY},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Colonic arteriovenous malformations in children: a missed cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding
AU  - Rohan Luthra
AU  - Natasha Gupta
AU  - Parveen Kumar
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/23
JO  - The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
DO  - 10.24953/turkjpediatr.2026.6807
UR  - https://doi.org/10.24953/turkjpediatr.2026.6807
AB  - Background. Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the pediatric population.  Case Presentation. We report two female children aged 3 and 7 years old with multiple episodes of hematochezia and severe anemia who underwent computed tomography angiography. The first case demonstrated diffuse concentric wall thickening with small calcifications (phleboliths) involving the sigmoid colon and rectum. The affected segments demonstrated moderate progressive enhancement, along with an arcade of prominent vascular channels in the pericolic fat. The second case demonstrated hyperdense wall thickening involving the descending colon and proximal sigmoid colon with intense homogeneous contrast enhancement and an arcade of prominent vessels along the left colon. In both cases, the feeding arteries arose from the inferior mesenteric artery and the venous drainage was into the inferior mesenteric vein. Our first case was subjected to ligation of inferior mesenteric vascular pedicle feeding and draining the AVM, which succeeded in controlling bleeding episodes, while the second patient, who presented with relatively milder symptoms, underwent embolization therapy.  Conclusion. Vascular malformations of the bowel should be considered in pediatric age group in cases of lower gastrointestinal bleed.
SN  - 0041-4301
SN  - 2791-6421
ER  -

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