MEDtube Science 2014 - Bleeding Meckel’s diverticulum in adults

Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) is the most common malformation of the digestive system, due to the incomplete closure of the omphalomesenteric duct. It is usually asymptomatic and less than 6% of patients develop complications. In adults, the most frequent symptoms are bowel obstruction and inflammation, gastrointestinal bleeding is much more common in the pediatric age group. Although symptomatic MD is an uncommon diagnosis after childhood, when observed, urgent diagnosis and surgical treatment is often required. MD preoperative diagnosis may be challenging. The study reports two cases of gastrointestinal hemorrhage with diagnostic difficulties in identifying a source of pathology, which turned out to be Meckel’s diverticulum containing bleeding ectopic gastric mucosa (with gastrointestinal stromal tumor within one of them).