Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectansia: a rare cause of long-lasting abdominal distension in an 8-year-old boy

摘要

Abdominal distension is a common complain encountered in pediatric surgery. In most cases, Hirschsprung's disease is the most common cause associated with abdominal distension in older children. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is a rare disease which commonly presents with hemorrhage and anemia. We treated an 8-year-old boy with long lasting intractable abdominal distension associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Clinicopathologic features of this rare entity are discussed with emphasis of its pathogenesis and diagnosis.