Case Report: Spontaneous Healing Of A Gastro-colic Fistula Due To A Benign Gastric Ulcer
Clinical Radiology 38(4): July 1987; 431-433
View Original Source →Abstract
Gastro-colic fistula is an uncommon complication of a benign gastric ulcer. The commonest causes of a gastro-colic fistula are carcinoma of the stomach, carcinoma of the colon and previous gastric surgery for peptic ulcer disease and surgery is the treatment of choice. We report a case of gastro-colic fistula due to a benign gastric ulcer, which healed spontaneously without treatment. Only one previous case of spontaneous healing of a gastro-colic fistula has been described and this patient subsequently had surgery to exclude an underlying malignant disease.
Case Details
Personal Characteristics
62-year-old man, history of hypertension and testicular seminoma, taking digoxin, cyclopenthiazide with potassium chloride and guanethidine, recently started on naproxen for a painful right knee
Clinical Characteristics
6-week history of epigastric pain and intermittent diarrhea, fistula between the transverse colon and the greater curve of the stomach, large gastric ulcer, healed gastric ulcer on the greater curve of the stomach with mucosal folds radiating towards the site of the scar, chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate in the lamina propria
Remission Characteristics
Healed gastric ulcer on the greater curve of the stomach, normal transverse colon with no evidence of a gastro-colic fistula
Treatment & Mechanisms
Proposed Remission Mechanisms
Not discussed
Clinical Treatment
Barium enema, barium meal, endoscopy, biopsies
Additional Notes
The patient remains alive and well 3 years later