Ulcerated Gastric Leiomyoma as a Cause of Digestive Bleeding

Abstract

Introduction: Gastric leiomyoma is an uncommon cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in surgical services.

Objective: To present a female patient with an ulcerated gastric leiomyoma as a cause of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Case presentation: A 39-year-old patient is presented, who attended the hospital with recurrent events of gastrointestinal bleeding in the form of melaena. At endoscopy, an ulcerated tumor was observed on its surface and occupying the entire antral region closest to the lesser curvature of the stomach and towards its posterior aspect.

A contrasted study of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum was performed; a regular filling defect was observed as occupying the antral region and the body of the stomach. With this diagnosis, gastric resection was performed as definitive treatment. The biopsy reported gastric leiomyoma.

Conclusions: Gastric leiomyoma is a rare benign tumor whose usual form of presentation is gastrointestinal bleeding and in which, in most patients and during diagnostic endoscopy, the Schindler's sign, characteristic of ulcerated leiomyomas, is likely to be observed; therefore, its treatment is surgical.

Their type of resection may vary according to their size, location and mitotic index, because of the high probability of malignancy of these tumors.