Ileal angiodysplasia causing chronic, occult gastrointestinal bleeding in a 14-year-old boy

Diagnostic laparoscopy revealed intra-abdominal adhesions and no clear vascular malformation. Initial careful visual and manual examination of the bowel after conversion to laparotomy failed to identify the lesion. On-table retrograde enteroscopy demonstrated a small, pulsatile lesion without ulceration or adherent clot in the mucosa of the proximal ileum. With endoscopic transillumination, a cluster of serpiginous vessels could be seen within the wall of the small bowel. The lesion was resected and pathology was consistent with angiodysplasia. Angiodysplasia is a rare cause of occult, chronic gastrointestinal bleeding in children. A multidisciplinary approach optimizes the likelihood of therapeutic success.