A CASE OF NON-SPECIFIC ULCER OF THE SMALL INTESTINE

Abstract

A 63-year-old man was referred to our hospital complaining of abdominal pain and vomiting. His abdomen was distended, and there was diffuse tenderness. An abdominal radiograph revealed air-fluid levels in the small intestine. Computed tomography revealed a dilatation of the small intestine. Based on these findings, he was diagnosed with adhesive small bowel obstruction. Long-tube decompression of the intestine was performed, and five days later the tube was removed because the symptoms disappeared and bowel movements were noted. However, because abdominal pain and vomiting appeared again, laparotomy was performed. A small amount of ascites was present in the abdominal cavity. The narrowed ileum was about 5 cm in length and located about 120 cm from the ileocecal valve. The ileum proximal to it was remarkably dilated. A partial iliectomy was therefore performed. The resected specimen exhibited a ring scar. Histopathologically, there was a shallow ulcer (UL-II) in the intestinal mucosa. We diagnosed non-specific ulcer of the small intestine. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged from the hospital on the 19th day. He has been asymptomatic for 4 months after laparotomy.