A case of hemorrhagic Meckel’s diverticulum in an elderly woman diagnosed by capsule endoscopy

Abstract

A 79-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with bloody stools and shock. Capsule endoscopy showed a diverticulum with an ulcer in the ileum. We suspected hemorrhage from the Meckel’s diverticulum. As the bloody stool persisted, surgery was performed. A diverticulum measuring about 3 cm in length was found in the ileum, approximately 70 cm from the ileocecal valve. The resected specimen showed the ulcer with an exposed blood vessel in the diverticulum. Histopathology confirmed a true diverticulum, although no heterotopic pyloric glands were observed in the circumference of the ulcer. Capsule endoscopy is a useful technique to diagnose hemorrhage from a Meckel’s diverticulum. Meckel’s diverticulum should be considered as a possible bleeding lesion, even in elderly patients with OGIB.