Atypical tumour-like involvement of the colon in secondary systemic amyloidosis which vanished after 1 month of observation

BMJ Case Rep. 2011 Mar 24:2011:bcr0120113775. doi: 10.1136/bcr.01.2011.3775.

Abstract

Amyloidosis occurs as a result of the extracellular deposition of protein fibrils in organs and tissues, thus causing mild to severe pathophysiological changes. The gastrointestinal tract is a common site of amyloid deposition. While intestinal amyloidosis frequently results in polypoid lesions, ulcerations, nodules and petechial mucosal haemorrhage, tumour-like lesions are rarely developed and infrequently diagnosed before the resection because of the difficulty in differentiating them from colon cancer. The authors herein reported a case of intestinal amyloid A amyloidosis with a complication of a tumour-like lesion endoscopically resembling a malignant lesion, which was completely diminished after 1 month of observation with bowel rest. Such conservative treatment is a feasible option to cure intestinal tumour-like lesions in patients with intestinal amyloidosis when no neoplastic change is histologically detected, possibly decreasing the need for surgery of the fragile mucosa.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amyloidosis / diagnosis*
  • Amyloidosis / therapy
  • Colonic Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Colonic Diseases / therapy
  • Colonoscopy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ileal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Ileal Diseases / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Parenteral Nutrition, Total*