Abstract
A Dieulafoy lesion describes a tortuous, submucosal artery in the gastrointestinal tract--most commonly the posterior stomach--that penetrates through the mucosa over time, eventually perforating to cause severe gastrointestinal bleeding. Due to its insidious onset, tendency to cause intermittent but severe bleeding, and difficulty of endoscopic diagnosis, Dieulafoy lesion has a very high mortality rate. Although originally thought not to be a radiologically diagnosable entity, Dieulafoy lesions can be seen at enhanced CT of the abdomen. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of Dieulafoy lesions with a focus on diagnostic findings at enhanced CT imaging.
Copyright © 2015 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Arteries / abnormalities*
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Duodenal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
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Duodenal Diseases / etiology
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Duodenal Diseases / surgery
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Esophageal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
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Esophageal Diseases / etiology
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Esophageal Diseases / surgery
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Female
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Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging*
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Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / etiology
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Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / surgery
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Humans
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Joint Instability / complications
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Joint Instability / diagnostic imaging*
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Male
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Skin Diseases, Genetic / complications
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Skin Diseases, Genetic / diagnostic imaging*
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Stomach Diseases / diagnostic imaging
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Stomach Diseases / etiology
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Stomach Diseases / surgery
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Vascular Malformations / complications
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Vascular Malformations / diagnostic imaging*
Supplementary concepts
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Arterial Tortuosity Syndrome