Mesenteric Bleeding due to a Ruptured Aneurysm of the Middle Colic Artery

An outpatient with repeated colic attacks of unknown cause was hospitalized and was subjected to CT scan, ultrasound inspection, cytodiagnosis via abdominocentesis, resulting in the diagnosis of epigastrial hematoma. Further angiographical investigation evidenced the presence of middle colic artery. Aneurysm was also detected in the right colic artery. Other celiac arteries, however, were normal. The aneurysms detected were surgically removed with a portion of the intestinal tract. The pathological investigation of the resected aneurysm in the present cast could not prove the association with several other diseases which have been mentioned as possible causes for aneurysm. While only 10 cases of aneurysm at the superior mesenteric arterial branch have been reported, the authors believe that angiographical inspection should indispensably be attempted for diagnosis in cases of abdominal pain or abdominal tumors of unknown causes.