Ileal hemorrhage caused by a parasitic uterine leiomyoma.

Abstract

Parasitic uterine leiomyomas occur rarely and may present with a wide variety of symptoms. This report describes a uterine leiomyoma that became adherent to the distal ileum and caused massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The diagnosis was made preoperatively with a selective superior mesenteric arteriogram. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy, hysterectomy, and bowel resection, with subsequent resolution of symptoms. Pathologic evaluation revealed fibrous adhesions of the leiomyoma to the ileum, with bleeding from a dilated blood vessel in the submucosa of the bowel.