A case of cholesterol embolism mimicking colorectal carcinoma and leading to obstruction in a geriatric patient

Turk Geriatri Dergisi · Ekim 2013

Makale Bilgileri

DergiTurk Geriatri Dergisi

Yayın TarihiEkim 2013

Cilt / Sayfa16 · 347-351

Özet Cholesterol embolisation syndrome is a rare clinical picture developing as a complication of angiography, vascular surgery, thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy in patients with atherosclerosis. Its mortality and morbidity is high. It presents with ischemic and painful skin lesions, livedo reticularis and acute renal failure. The variations in clinical presentation make the diagnosis difficult. Gastrointestinal system involvement is in the third rank. There is no definitive treatment option. Since the population under risk for cholesterol embolisation syndrome is increasing, early diagnosis and prevention is gaining importance. A 73 year old male patient with a body weight of 45 kg was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of inability to defecate. A mass was observed in rectum in colonoscopy. His history revealed hypertension, diabetes, thrombotic aort aneurysm, cigarette smoking, coronary stent application, and use of antiaggregant medication in the past. A low anterior resection was performed for the patient. Pathology results were consistent with cholesterol embolisation syndrome. In this case report, we probed the diagnosis and treatment of a geriatric case with CES mimicking rectal carcinoma and leading to obstruction. Cholesterol embolisation syndrome should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis in patients with nonspesific signs related to gastrointestinal system in the presence of risk factors for cholesterol embolisation syndrome.