ISSN 2167-0404
International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences Vol. 1(2), pp. 035-037, 27 December, 2011, ISSN: 2167-0404 © International Scholars Journals
Case Study
Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome: An Unusual Cause of Abdominal Pain
Raj Majithia1 and Michael Gold2
1Division of Gastroenterology, Washington Hospital Center 110 Irving St., N.W. Suite 3A3 Washington, DC 20010 Phone: (202) 877-9074
2Michael Gold MD FAGA Division of Gastroenterology, Washington Hospital Center 110 Irving St., N.W. Suite 3A3 Washington, DC 20010 Phone: (202) 877-9074
*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: [email protected]
Received October 27, 2011; Accepted November 23, 2011
Abstract
We present a case of a 22 year old female who presented to the hospital with abdominal pain and iron deficiency anemia. She had an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) that revealed blue rubber bled nevus syndrome (BRBNS), a rare condition characterized by multiple relapsing and remitting cutaneous venous malformations in association with visceral lesions most commonly affecting the GI tract. In 1860, Gascoyen first described an association between cavernous hemangiomas of the skin and similar lesions in the GI tract. In 1958, Bean further described these lesions and coined the term blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome. Chronic iron deficiency anemia is the most common complication. The patient’s abdominal pain and anemia were due to the intraluminal thrombus from a previously bleeding bleb. She recovered from the hospitalization and has been undergoing repeated transfusions to correct her anemia.
Keywords: Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, EGD, Bean syndrome, cavernous hemangioma.