3. Dieulafoy Lesion

Dieulafoy Lesion

This PatientPlus article is written for healthcare professionals so the language may be more technical than the condition leaflets. You may find the abbreviations list helpful.

The lesion in Dieulafoy's disease consists of a submucosal ectatic artery in the gastrointestinal tract. It is larger than the vessels usually in that area. It can occur in any part of the GI tract, although most frequently it is in the stomach.[1] The protuberant artery causes brisk bleeding with little or no surrounding ulceration. The aetiology of the ectatic vessel and the cause of bleeding is unknown.

Dieulafoy was a French Surgeon and was the first to describe three cases at the end of the 18th century.

  • Proximal stomach
  • Small intestine - both jejunum and ileum have been involved[3]
  • Colon
  • Rectum[2]
  • More rare - oesophagus

The incidence of Dieulafoy lesion leading to GIT haemorrhage ranges from 0.5% to 14%, depending upon the study. It is commoner in men and presents around 50 years of age.

  • Bleeding - upper GIT or lower GIT
  • Abdominal pain is uncommon
  • Haemodynamic compromise

Endoscopy, although repeated endoscopy may be required - especially if the lesion is not actively bleeding.[1]

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  • Resuscitation with fluids, blood etc.
  • Endoscopic occlusion of the vessel, either by sclerotherapy, electrocautery or laser. Endoscopic examination and management requires careful inspection as the lesions can be easily missed.
  • Rarely if the lesion can not be identified and the patient continues to bleed then surgical exploration may be necessary.
  • Band ligation has also been used to treat Dieulafoy lesions with some success.[5]

The haemorrhage is usually difficult to manage conservatively and can be fatal. However, with meticulous examination at endoscopy the outcome is much improved.

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Further reading & references

  1. Abraham P, Mukerji SS, Desai DC, et al; Dieulafoy lesion in mid-esophagus with esophageal varices. Indian J Gastroenterol. 2004 Nov-Dec;23(6):220-1.
  2. Apiratpracha W, Ho JK, Powell JJ, et al; Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding from a dieulafoy lesion proximal to the anorectal junction post-orthotopic liver transplant. World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Dec 14;12(46):7547-8.
  3. Fox A, Ravi K, Leeder PC, et al; Adult small bowel Dieulafoy lesion. Postgrad Med J. 2001 Dec;77(914):783-4.
  4. al-Mishlab T, Amin AM, Ellul JP; Dieulafoy's lesion: an obscure cause of GI bleeding. J R Coll Surg Edinb. 1999 Aug;44(4):222-5.
  5. Nikolaidis N, Zezos P, Giouleme O, et al; Endoscopic band ligation of Dieulafoy-like lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Endoscopy. 2001 Sep;33(9):754-60.
Original Author: Dr Gurvinder Rull Current Version:
Last Checked: 12/06/2009 Document ID: 2060  Version: 21 © EMIS

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. EMIS has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.

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