BACKGROUND Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is an uncommon vascular pathology characterized by arteriopathy, mainly of medium-sized abdominal splanchnic vessels, without an atherosclerotic, inflammatory, infectious, or autoimmune underlying etiology. Segmental arterial mediolysis is clinically heterogeneous and symptoms may be completely nonspecific. The knowledge of radiological features of segmental arterial mediolysis and the exclusion of other pathologies should direct early diagnosis and refer patients for correct treatment. CASE REPORT In the last 2 years, we treated 2 different adult patients (an 89-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man) with spontaneous visceral bleeding, admitted to the Emergency Department due to acute onset of abdominal pain, anemia, and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) evidence of aneurysmatic, and stenotic alterations of splanchnic arteries. Based on clinical, laboratory, and radiological features, segmental arterial mediolysis was suspected. These 2 patients were referred to our Interventional Radiology Department and treated with super-selective transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), performed by a minimally invasive approach, allowing an immediate clinical improvement with regression of symptoms and avoiding major surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS In patients with clinical, laboratory, and radiological signs of acute and/or chronic abdominal bleeding and radiological findings suggesting segmental arterial mediolysis, mini-invasive endovascular treatment is a safe, extremely reliable, and secure procedure and appears to be the first-choice treatment when available. Since abdominal bleeding could have fatal consequences in these patients, timely diagnosis and endovascular therapy are essential to treat visceral vascular alterations due to segmental arterial mediolysis.

Clinically Suspected Segmental Arterial Mediolysis of the Splanchnic Arteries: A Report of 2 Rare Cases

Castelli, Federica;Inì, Corrado;Scavone, Giovanni;Zagarella, Marco;Pizzarelli, Marco Vittorio;Scavone, Antonio;Basile, Antonio
Ultimo
2021-01-01

Abstract

BACKGROUND Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is an uncommon vascular pathology characterized by arteriopathy, mainly of medium-sized abdominal splanchnic vessels, without an atherosclerotic, inflammatory, infectious, or autoimmune underlying etiology. Segmental arterial mediolysis is clinically heterogeneous and symptoms may be completely nonspecific. The knowledge of radiological features of segmental arterial mediolysis and the exclusion of other pathologies should direct early diagnosis and refer patients for correct treatment. CASE REPORT In the last 2 years, we treated 2 different adult patients (an 89-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man) with spontaneous visceral bleeding, admitted to the Emergency Department due to acute onset of abdominal pain, anemia, and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) evidence of aneurysmatic, and stenotic alterations of splanchnic arteries. Based on clinical, laboratory, and radiological features, segmental arterial mediolysis was suspected. These 2 patients were referred to our Interventional Radiology Department and treated with super-selective transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), performed by a minimally invasive approach, allowing an immediate clinical improvement with regression of symptoms and avoiding major surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS In patients with clinical, laboratory, and radiological signs of acute and/or chronic abdominal bleeding and radiological findings suggesting segmental arterial mediolysis, mini-invasive endovascular treatment is a safe, extremely reliable, and secure procedure and appears to be the first-choice treatment when available. Since abdominal bleeding could have fatal consequences in these patients, timely diagnosis and endovascular therapy are essential to treat visceral vascular alterations due to segmental arterial mediolysis.
2021
Abdominal Pain
Adult
Aged, 80 and over
Angiography
Arteries
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Embolization, Therapeutic
Vascular Diseases
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/542194
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