Primary aorto-enteric fistula – a unique complication of poorly differentiated large B-cell lymphoma
Unknown ethiology, Unusual clinical course, Challenging differential diagnosis, Diagnostic / therapeutic accidents, Rare disease
Oleg Shulik, Kyle Marling, Jill Butler
Am J Case Rep 2013; 14:194-197
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.889277
Available online: 2013-06-10
Published: 2013-06-10
Background: Primary Aorto-Enteric Fistula (PAEF) is a unique and rare life threatening communication between the Aorta and Gastrointestinal Tract with an unusually high mortality rate and delayed diagnosis. Aortic abdominal aneurysms are implicated in a vast majority of cases while cancer as an etiology of PAEF is extremely rare.
Case Report: We present the first case report of a PAEF secondary to Large B-Cell Lymphoma, followed by a review of literature in regards to malignant aorto-enteric fistulae.
Conclusions: We conclude that physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for PAEF in any patient with unexplained anemia and history of aortic abdominal aneurysm complicated by cancer
Keywords: Gastrointestinal Hemmorage, Aortoenteric fistula, Lymphoma
