Abstract
We have recently experienced a case of splenic artery aneurysm with endoscopically suggesting a submucosal tumor of the stomach. A 76-year-old woman who complained of occasional epigastric discomfort for two years. Laboratory findings showed no abnormality. UGI series and endoscopic examination showed two protruded lesions with bridging folds on the posterior wall of the upper and middle gastric body. Subsequent examinations of the computed tomogrphy and the celiac angiography showed two splenic artery aneurysms located below the posterior wall of stomach. We diagnosed the gastric protruded lesions as the compressions of extragastric masses. It is reported that many deaseases, such as pancreatitis, liver cyst, hemangioma of the liver, cholecystitis, inflammatory tumor and splenic cyst showed a submucosal tumor-like appearance on endoscopic observation. Although the splenic artery aneurysm is found frequently in the arteries of abdominal organs, the splenic artery aneurysm which shows submucosal tumor-like endoscopic findings is rare. It is sometimes difficult to differentiate a submucosal tumor from a protruded lesion caused by the compression of extragastric mass only with endoscopic appearance. Therefore, we must diagnose carefully to differentiate them by various examinations before biopsy or endoscopic therapy.
