Involuntary weight loss. Does a negative baseline evaluation provide adequate reassurance?

BACKGROUND: Involuntary weight loss frequently poses a diagnostic challenge. Patient and physician alike want to exclude malignant and other major organic illness. The present study aimed to evaluate whether a negative baseline evaluation (consisting of clinical examination, standard laboratory examination, chest X-ray, and abdominal ultrasound) lowers the probability of evolving organic illness in patients with significant unexplained weight loss. METHODS: Prospective observational study of 101 consecutive patients presenting to a general internal medicine department of a university hospital with an unexplained unintentional weight loss of at least 5% within 6-12 months. Laboratory tests of interest included C-reactive protein, albumin, haemoglobin, and liver function tests. RESULTS: Weight loss of the 101 patients [age (mean, interquartile range): 64 (51-71) years, 46% male] averaged 10 (7-15) kg. Organic causes were found in 57 patients (56%), including malignancy in 22 (22%). In 44 patients without obvious organic cause for the weight loss (44%), a psychiatric disorder was implicated in 16 (16%) and no cause was established in 28 (28%), despite vigorous effort and follow-up of at least 6 months. Baseline evaluation was entirely normal in none of the 22 patients (0%) with malignancy, in 2 of the 35 (5.7%) with non-malignant organic disease, and in 23 of the 44 (52%) without physical diagnosis. Additional testing, oftentimes extensive, after a normal baseline evaluation led to one additional physical diagnosis (lactose intolerance). CONCLUSION: In patients presenting with substantial unintentional weight loss, major organic and especially malignant diseases seem highly unlikely when a baseline evaluation is completely normal. In this setting, a watchful waiting approach may be preferable to undirected and invasive testing.     

Clinical evaluation for cancer in patients with involuntary weight loss without specific symptoms

PURPOSE: There is no established diagnostic approach to rule out cancer in patients who present with involuntary weight loss in the absence of other symptoms (isolated involuntary weight loss). We sought to evaluate the efficiency of various diagnostic studies used in these patients. METHODS: We studied 306 patients referred to an urban tertiary care teaching hospital for isolated involuntary weight loss, 276 of whom were followed for at least 1 year or until a final diagnosis was reached. We collected data about the diagnostic approach, the causes of unintentional weight loss, and survival. RESULTS: Of the 276 patients, 104 (38%) had cancer, mainly of the digestive system (54%, n = 56). The first diagnostic clue usually came from routine blood tests (complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and a biochemical profile), which led to a more targeted diagnostic procedure, such as abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and gastrointestinal endoscopy. Only 2 patients with cancer had normal results in all of these tests. Nine of the patients with cancer were not detected during the initial evaluation. Median survival was 2 months among patients with cancer, and only 9 survived longer than 1 year. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a clinical approach, including routine laboratory tests (complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and serum albumin, aminotransferases, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels) and abdominal ultrasonography, seems to be appropriate for detecting the majority of cases of cancer among patients with isolated involuntary weight loss.     

胃间质瘤31例临床分析

目的：探讨胃间质瘤的临床表现、诊断和治疗方法。方法：回顾分析资料完整、副总理诊断明确的31例胃间质瘤患者,依据诊断标准对胃间质瘤进行分类。结果：胃间质瘤无明显的性别差异,50-60岁为发病高峰。好发部位为胃底部,其次为胃体部,胃窦部发生较少。其中恶性胃间质瘤占58.1％（18/31）,良性胃间质瘤仅占25.8％（8/31）。交界性胃间质瘤的病程较长,平均为79个月,恶性胃间质瘤的病程较短,平均为4个月。本病临床表现无特异性,主要为上消化道出血、上腹不适和（或）腹胀、腹痛等。胃镜、超声胃镜上、上消化道钡餐造影或B超及CT影像学等检查可以发现肿瘤,通过病理组织学及免疫组化检查可明确诊断。本病首选手术治疗,对伴有肝转移者可采取经肝动脉导管栓塞化疗,但疗效不肯定。结论：胃间质瘤是一类独立的胃黏膜下肿瘤,过去诊断为平滑肌或神经源性肿瘤的某些梭形细胞肿瘤,通过免疫组化检查可能为胃间质瘤。     

Clinical study of 105 cases of isolated weight loss in internal medicine

We arbitrarily define "isolated weight loss" as the loss of at least 10 p. 100 of body weight over less than one year, without any single cause being disclosed by questioning, physical examination and such paraclinical examinations as blood electrolytes, blood count and differential, routine dipstick urinalysis and X-ray of the chest. Among the 105 patients we studied, the causes of isolated weight loss were: (1) psychic disorders (chiefly depression) in 60 p. 100 of the cases; (2) a variety of organic diseases in 29 p. 100, including gastrointestinal diseases (8 p. 100), cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (6 p. 100), Horton's disease (4 p. 100), Portuguese amyloidosis (1 p. 100), unexplained inflammatory syndrome (1 p. 100), endocrine disease (hyperthyroidism, 4 p. 100) and intoxication with medicines, alcohol or heroin (5 p. 100); (3) no definite cause could be found in 11 p. 100 of the cases. We suggest a diagnostic approach involving a limited number of examinations, viz.: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, measurement of transaminases, gamma GT and alkaline phosphatase enzymes, abdominal ultrasonography and ultra-sensitive TSH assay. We consider it important to switch from useless paraclinical tests to the detection and management of psychic disorders. Weight loss is a frequent motive of consultation, but its diagnostic value is often misunderstood. The purpose of this study was to provide data for the artiological diagnosis of isolated weight loss--a relatively frequent problem in internal medicine.     

Role of small bowel investigation in iron deficiency anaemia after negative endoscopic/histologic evaluation of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of small bowel investigation in iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) patients is controversial. AIM: To evaluate the presence of small bowel lesions likely to cause IDA in patients with unexplained IDA after negative gastroscopy with biopsies and colonoscopy (CS). METHODS: A total of 117 outpatients, referred for unexplained IDA, underwent gastroscopy with biopsies and colonscopy. In 17 (14.5%) patients, endoscopic/histological investigations were negative. Of these patients, 13 underwent small bowel follow-through (SBFT) and if necessary to confirm the diagnosis, further gastrointestinal (GI) investigations. RESULTS: Small bowel lesions likely to cause IDA were found in five (38%) patients. Four of these lesions were detected by SBFT, two of them were malignant. These findings, confirmed at surgery and ileoscopy (IS), led to the final diagnoses ofjejunal and ileal adenocarcinoma, idiopathic ileal ulcers and ileal Crohn's disease. In one case, after negative SBFT, jejunal angiodysplasia was detected by video capsule endoscopy (VCE). Faecal occult blood test (FOBT) was positive in four (31%) patients, all of whom presented lesions likely to cause IDA, detected in three cases by SBFT and in one case by VCE. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the importance of investigating the small bowel in IDA patients after negative upper and lower GI endoscopy, particularly if FOBT is positive.     

Abdominal tuberculosis in Taiwan: A report from Veterans' General Hospital,Taipei

Setting: From 1986 to 1992, 27 cases of abdominal tuberculosis were diagnosed in Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, including 21 cases of intestinal tuberculosis and 6 cases of peritoneal tuberculosis.Objective: To ascertain the clinical characteristics of abdominal tuberculosis in Chinese patients and the possibility of early clinical diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis.Design: Clinical features, diagnosis and treatment modality of these 27 cases were reviewed.Results: 22 of the patients (81.5%) had chest X-ray evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Only 2 had normal chest X-ray findings. Sputum mycobacterium culture was positive in 14 of 27 patients (51.9%). 20 patients received exploratory laparotomy for the diagnosis and all of the preoperative diagnoses were wrong. The diagnosis was still incorrect or uncertain in 9 cases after laparotomy if no pathological examination was done. Ileocecal area was the most common site of intestinal tuberculosis in our series and 3 of 11 ulcerative types of intestinal tuberculosis died later.Conclusion: Due to protean manifestations, the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis was frequently misdiagnosed, and particularly as carcinomatosis. The diagnosis should be considered when patients with pulmonary tuberculosis suffer from abdominal discomfort. Exploratory laparotomy is needed in cases suspected of abdominal carcinomatosis without definite diagnosis.     

Unexplained weight loss in the ambulatory elderly

Significant unexplained and unintentional weight loss was found in 45 elderly patients who were identified by computer search of the diagnostic files of seven family practice centers. We performed a case series chart review study which revealed that 24% of the 45 cases had no definitive etiology for the weight loss after two years of extensive clinical investigation. Depression was found to be the most common diagnosis made (18%) followed by cancer (16%). Only four patients died during the study period and all had cancer. The most prevalent diagnosis in this group of ambulatory elderly patients did not prove to be cancer, as often though, but rather "unexplained weight loss." CT scans were not found to be helpful as screening tests in the evaluation of weight loss. Using the data from this study, the diagnostic evaluations of elderly patients with unexplained weight loss may be more efficiently directed.     

Gastroscopy and Cytology in the Diagnosis of Gastric Malignant Diseases

In a series of histologically verified malignancies (33 cases) gastroscopy alone established a correct diagnosis in 80%, and cytology definitely in 70% and possibly in an additional 20%. In the 5 cases with early carcinoma. cytology demonstrated malignant cells in all. In the series of histologically verified benign lesions (49 patients) gastroscopy alone suggested a malignant ulcer in about 20% of the cases. In the cytological preparations from the gastric washings a diagnosis of malignant cells was made in two of the cases. Gastroscopy and cytology in combination established a correct diagnosis in about 90%.     

Relationship between pernicious anaemia and gastric neuroendocrine cell disorders

The incidence of gastric carcinoid tumours is increasing. This rise is probably due to the number of gastroscopies and improved histological techniques. The majority (65%) of these gastric tumours is associated with chronic atrophic gastritis and pernicious anaemia. In this article two patients are presented, one with pernicious anaemia and gastric neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia and one with pernicious anaemia and multiple gastric carcinoids. These neuroendocrine cell disorders have a relatively favourable prognosis. Therefore, a wait-and-see policy was preferred. The pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of these different neuroendocrine cell manifestations are discussed. We recommend performing a gastroscopy at the time of diagnosis for young patients with pernicious anaemia, and whenever abdominal problems, unexplained weight loss or aggravation of the anaemia arise.     

Aorto-iliac aneurysms rupturing into the vena cava. A retrospective multicenter study

Eleven of the 28 centers participating in the French inter-university association for surgical research (AURC) collected retrospective data on abdominal aortic aneurysms ruptured into the vena cava. Thirty-nine cases were observed between 1979 and 1989. The signs and symptoms reported varied greatly. The pathognomonic triad associating aneurysm, abdominal pain and continuous abdominal murmur was found in one-third of the cases: 25.6% of the patients had signs of global heart failure. The diagnosis was preoperative in 74.4% of the cases. Mean delay of symptomatology before diagnosis was 7 +/- 12 hours. The analysis of operative procedures included 37 patients as 2 patients died before vascular repair could be attempted. Venous repair was done by direct suture in 76% of the cases. Peroperative blood loss was 4 600 +/- 3 500 ml. Perioperative mortality was 11 cases (28.2%). Cardiac and respiratory disorders were the cause of death in 54.4% of the fatal cases.     

A clinical dilemma： abdominal tuberculosis

AIM: To evaluate the clinical, radiological and microbiological properties of abdominal tuberculosis (TB) and to discuss methods needed to get the diagnosis. METHODS: Thirty-one patients diagnosed as abdominal TB between March 1998 and December 2001 at the Gastroenterology Department of Kartal State Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey were evaluated prospectively. Complete physical examination, medical and family history, blood count erythrocyte sedimentation rate, routine biochemical tests, Mantoux skin test, chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasonography (USG) were performed in all cases, whereas microbiological examination of ascites, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy or barium enema, abdominal tomography, mediastinoscopy, laparoscopy or laparotomy were done when needed. RESULTS: The median age of patients (14 females,17 males) was 34.2 years (range 15-65 years). The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain and weight loss. Eleven patients had active pulmonary TB. The most common abdominal USG findings were ascites and hepatomegaly. Ascitic fluid analysis performed in 13 patients was found to be exudative and acid resistant bacilli were present in smear and cultured only in one patient with BacTec (3.2 %). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy yielded nonspecific findings in 16 patients. Colonoscopy performed in 20 patients showed ulcers in 9 (45 %), nodules in 2 (10 %) and, stricture, polypoid lesions, granulomatous findings in terminal ileum and rectal fistula each in one patient (5 %). Laparoscopy on 4 patients showed dilated bowel loops, thickening in the mesentery, multiple ulcers and tubercles on the peritoneum. Patients with abdominal TB were divided into three groups according to the type of involvement. Fifteen patients (48 %) had intestinal TB, 11 patients (35.2 %) had tuberculous peritonitis and 5 (16.8 %) tuberculous lymphadenitis. The diagnosis of abdominal TB was confirmed microbiologically in 5 (16 %) and histo-pathologically in 19 patients (60.8 %). The remaining nine patients (28.8 %) had been diagnosed by a positive response to antituberculous treatment. CONCLUSION: Neither clinical signs, laboratory, radiological and endoscopic methods nor bacteriological and histopathological findings provide a gold standard by themselves in the diagnosis of abdominal TB. However, an algorithm of these diagnostic methods leads to considerably higher precision in the diagnosis of this insidious disease which primarily necessitate a clinical awareness of this serious health problem.     

Tuberculous peritonitis of the wet ascitic type: clinical features and diagnostic value of image-guided peritoneal biopsy

BACKGROUND: Abdominal tuberculosis is still a medical problem in developing countries. AIMS: To analyse the clinical, laboratory, ultrasonography and computed tomography findings and to discuss the diagnostic approach of 19 patients with peritoneal tuberculosis. PATIENTS: Nineteen patients diagnosed in our department, with peritoneal tuberculosis (8 female, 11 male; mean age: 47.89 +/- 4.3 years) between 1996 and 2002, were studied retrospectively. METHODS: All clinical, laboratory, radiological findings, and diagnostic methods were reviewed. RESULTS: The most common symptoms and signs of the disease in these patients were abdominal pain, ascites, weight loss and night sweats. On conducting skin test, eight patients (42%) were found to be positive, while all the patients had elevated serum cancer antigen 125 levels, but acid-resistant bacilli could not be demonstrated on the direct preparation. In three patients (15.78%), the ascitic fluid culture was positive. The most common ultrasonographic and computed tomographic findings were ascites, septation in the ascites, peritoneal thickening, mesenteric and omental involvement. An abnormal chest X-ray, suggestive of previous tuberculosis was present in three patients. Diagnosis was made by image-guided percutaneous peritoneal biopsy in 18/19, and by histological examination of biopsy specimens obtained via laparoscopy in 1/19. Laparoscopy was only performed in 1 of the 19 patients due to lack of sufficient material for histological diagnosis by percutaneous biopsy. Of the biopsy specimens, 84% revealed caseating granulomas, while 16% were non-caseating. Acid-fast bacilli were seen on the Ziehl-Neelsen stain in 18 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of exudative ascites. Image-guided percutaneous peritoneal biopsy seems to be a sufficient, safe and inexpensive method for diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis.     

胃肠超声造影对胃底静脉曲张的诊断价值

食管胃静脉曲张是肝硬化门静脉高压的常见并发症。近年来,超声造影在胃肠疾病诊断中的应用日益受到关注。目的：探讨胃肠超声造影对胃底静脉曲张的诊断价值。方法：收集2009年3月-2011年9月于河北省玉田县医院接受胃镜和口服胃肠超声造影检查的肝硬化门静脉高压患者79例,回顾性分析胃肠超声造影的声像图特征,并以胃镜检查结果为“金标准”,评价其对胃底静脉曲张的诊断价值。结果：79例肝硬化门静脉高压患者中41例经胃镜检查证实胃底静脉曲张,其中33例胃肠超声造影显示特征性声像图表现,曲张静脉内径（12．6±8．9）mm,血液流速（13．9±2．7）cm／s。胃肠超声造影诊断胃底静脉曲张的敏感性、特异性、准确率分别为80．5％（33／41）、100％（38／38）、89．9％（71／79）。结论：胃肠超声造影在胃底静脉曲张的诊断中具有较高应用价值,有望成为肝硬化门静脉高压患者胃底静脉曲张的初步筛查手段推广使用。     

A very elderly autopsy case of cecal cancer with pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosa

A 91-year-old man was admitted with colliquative diarrhea, anorexia and weight loss. He had a history of healed tuberculosis, hypertension and atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysms. On admission, shortness of breath without cough, exertional dyspnea, and ascites were also noticed. His chest X-ray and CT showed almost normal findings in the lung fields except for calcified old pleurisy. Since laboratory tests revealed thrombocytopenia, low fibrinogen, and increased CA19-9. DIC induced by an unknown cancer was diagnosed. He died on the eighth day due to progressive respiratory failure which did not respond to oxygen therapy. Autopsy revealed that he had a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in the cecum complicated with pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosa. Lymphangitis should be considered in the case of unexplained progressive respiratory failure developing in patient with cancer, even in the absence of X-ray findings.     

Scintigraphic detection of carcinoid tumors with a cost effectiveness analysis

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy and the cost-effectiveness of this technique in the detection of gastroenteropancreatic carcinoid tumors and their metastases in comparison with conventional imaging methods. METHODS: Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) was performed in 24 patients with confirmed carcinoids and 7 under investigation. The results were compared with those of conventional imaging methods (chest X-ray, upper abdominal ultrasound, chest CT, upper and lower abdominal CT). Also a cost-effectiveness analysis was performed comparing the cost in Euro of several combinations of SRS with conventional imaging modalities. RESULTS: SRS visualized primary or metastatic sites in 71.0% of cases and 61.3% of conventional imagings. The diagnostic sensitivity of the method was higher in patients with suspected lesions (85.7% vs 57.1%). SRS was less sensitive in the detection of metastatic sites (78.9% vs 84.2%). The undetectable lesions by SRS metastatic sites were all in the liver. Between several imaging combinations, the combinations of chest X-ray/upper abdominal CT/SRS and chest CT/upper abdominal CT/SRS showed the highest sensitivity (88.75%) in terms of the number of detected lesions. The combinations of chest X-ray/upper abdominal US/SRS and chest CT/upper abdominal ultrasound /SRS yielded also a quite similar sensitivity (82%). Compared to the cost of the four sensitive combinations the combination of chest X-ray/upper abdominal ultrasound/SRS presented the lower cost, 1183.99 Euro vs 1251.75 Euro for chest CT/upper abdominal ultrasound/SRS, 1294.93 Euro for chest X/ray/upper abdominal CT/SRS and 1362.75 Euro for chest CT/upper abdominal CT/SRS. CONCLUSION: SRS imaging is a very sensitive method for the detection of gastroenteropancreatic carcinoids but is less sensitive than ultrasound and CT in the detection of liver metastases. Between several imaging combinations, the combination of chest X-ray/upper abdominal CT/SRS shows the highest sensitivity with a cost of 1294.93 Euro.     

Aortocaval fistulas. Apropos of 5 cases

5 cases of aorto-iliac aneurysms which fistulised into the inferior vena cava are described. They illustrate the problems encountered in this condition. - Diagnosis: although a classical diagnosis, it is only recognised in 27 p. 100 of cases because the clinical presentation can be very variable. A pulsating, expansive, abdominal mass very suggestive of an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta should alert to the possibility of a fistula within the inferior vena cava when the patient has unexplained cardiac failure, shock, lower limb deep vein thrombosis, urinary or psychological problems. In the absence of a continuous abdominal murmur, the diagnosis may be confirmed by complementary investigations; the investigations of choice are non-invasive. Abdominal ultrasonography showing an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta associated with dilatation of the inferior vena cava is very suggestive of the diagnosis. - The only treatment is surgery. The operative risk depends on the presence of absence of associated retroperitoneal rupture of the aneurysm, the respective mortalities being 83 p. 100 and 15 p. 100. - The principal causes of death are pulmonary embolism and renal failure which necessitate special prophylactic measures (surgical and anaesthetic).     

Abdominal pain accompanied by weight loss may increase the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy: a Korean multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is approved for the evaluation of obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and its use has increased in the assessment of patients with various small-bowel disorders. The yield of CE for indications of disorders other than GI bleeding is not yet well described. The aim of the present study was to determine in which subgroup of patients with unexplained abdominal pain, CE would be a helpful evaluation tool. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of CE in 110 patients (70 M, 40 F, mean age 50.8+/-14.1 years) with unexplained abdominal pain from 12 tertiary referral centers between September 2002 and September 2004 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The visualization of the small bowel to the cecum was successfully carried out in 69.1% of the patients. Nineteen out of the 110 cases revealed positive findings that explained the symptoms of the patient (diagnostic yield=17.3%). Diagnosis included small-bowel stricture (5), Crohn's disease (3), small-bowel tumor (2), radiation-induced enteritis (1), NSAID-induced enteropathy (1), ischemic ileitis (1), diffuse lymphangiectasia (1), and significant erosion or ulceration (5). By univariate logistic regression analysis, the positive findings of CE were significantly associated with weight loss (odds ratio (OR), 11.9; 95% CI [2.0, 70.6]), elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (>20 mm/h) (OR, 11.5; 95% CI (1.9, 69.5)), elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) (>or=0.4 mg/dL) (OR, 5.0; 95% CI (1.6, 15.9)), and hypoalbuminemia (albumin<3 g/dL) (OR, 23.1; 95% CI (2.4, 223.1)). Using a multivariate analysis, weight loss was found to be a significant risk factor for positive findings of CE (OR, 18.6; 95% CI (1.6, 222.4), p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that CE can be helpful in patients suffering from abdominal pain that cannot be explained by established examinations, if the pain is accompanied by weight loss.     

Retrospective study of Crohn disease at a hospital in Andalucía (1978-1988)]

We reviewed 46 cases of Crohn's disease diagnosed during the period between 1978-1988, with the intention to analyse the age, sex, presentation, evolution, complications and diagnosis. The majority of patients were women, with a mean age of 39. In the last years we have seen an increment in our number of cases. The mean time to diagnosis was about 3.5 years. The main symptoms were abdominal pain, diarrhoea and loss of weight. The complications was of 40% in colonic disease and 75% when the affection was in ileum and colon. During the evolution 4 patients died, 2 of them from their Crohn's disease. One patient had a colonic carcinoma. In 15% of the cases there was a previous appendectomy. The most frequent radiological findings were in the small intestine: lack of haustration and cobblestone appearance. In the colon: lack of haustration and ulceration. The most frequent endoscopical findings were ulcers and a cobblestone appearance.     

Gallium-67 imaging in a patient with paracoccidioidomycosis: a case report

A 26 year-old female was admitted with abdominal pain, fever and weight loss. The clinical and laboratory investigations led to the diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis. Gallium-67 whole body images correlated well with the clinical course of the disease and with the patient's prognosis.     

Diagnostic and management of spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma

BackgroundSpontaneous rectus sheath hematoma is an uncommon and often misdiagnosed cause of abdominal pain. The aim of this study is to describe our experience in their management.MethodsRetrospective analysis of the characteristics and outcomes of the spontaneous rectus sheath hematomas diagnosed over the last 12 years was conducted.Results24 patients were included (66% women; mean age: 74 years; range: 54–87). All cases presented predisposing factors mainly anticoagulant therapy in 21 (87.5%) patients, hypertension in 19 (79.1%) and abdominal surgery in 12 (50%) cases. Eighteen (75%) referred triggering factors like coughing being the most common one, present in 17 (70.8%) patients. The main clinical findings were abdominal pain in 21 (87.5%) cases and the existence of an abdominal mass in 20 (83.3%). The diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography and/or computerized tomography in 23 (95.8%) patients. Nineteen cases (79.1%) responded to conservative management while 5 (20.8%) required interventional treatment, which consisted in an arteriography with selective embolization of the epigastric arteries in all cases. Four (80%) of the patients needing interventional treatment were receiving low molecular weight heparin. Nine (37.5%) patients developed hypovolemic shock and 1 (4%) died.ConclusionsSpontaneous rectus sheath hematomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain, particularly in elderly women under anticoagulant therapy with onset of symptoms after a bout of cough. Most cases respond to conservative management, although those related to low molecular weight heparin might require interventional treatment; arteriography with selective embolization of the epigastric arteries is the first therapeutic option.