Diffuse Cavernous Hemangioma of the Rectum: Report of a Case

Cavernous hemangioma of the rectum (CHR) is an uncommon benign vascular lesion, which mainly affects young adults. The rectosigmoid area is the most common site of cavernous hemangioma in the gastrointestinal tract. CHR is often misdiagnosed due to a lack of knowledge of the clinical features. We report a case of CHR, focusing on the clinical features, diagnostic procedures used, and treatments given. This patient was finally treated effectively with abdominoperineal resection. Thorough preoperative imaging is necessary to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate both the site and extent of the hemangioma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides information about the dimensions of the tumor and involvement of the adjacent structures with its high resolution and multiplanar capability, without the use of contrast medium. Moreover, endorectal surface coil MRI depicts the five separate layers of the bowel wall and internal and external sphincter more clearly than the conventional body coil MRI. Received: December 26, 2001 / Accepted: May 7, 2002 Reprint requests to: M. Watanabe