Abstract
A 55-year-old woman was referred to our Department for further evaluation of a mass in the sigmoid colon detected by a local doctor. She had an episode of bloody stool with sudden onset, not associated with abdominal pain 28 days prior to the admission. Barium enema disclosed a circumscribed protruded lesion, 22 mm in diameter, with uneven attachment of barium on the surface, in the sigmoid colon, Endoscopic examination revealed a dark-red purple colored, semipedunculated mass which easily bled and looked like a blood clot. Cavernous hemangioma was strongly suspected from the angiographic finding of inferior mesenteric artery demonstrating a pooling in the late venous phase at the same area where the mass was detected by barium enema examination. Massive bleeding with sudden onset occurred and necessitated emergency operation. A dark-red colored, semipedunculated, soft mass measuring 18 × 13 mm was found in the sigmoid colon. A diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma was made from the histological finding demonstrating dilated vessels filled with intravascular thrombi or blood clots.
