Table 1.
Causes of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (in order of frequency)
| Overlooked lesions in the upper GI tract or in the colon |
| Upper GI tract (proximal to the angle of Treitz) |
| Cameron ulcers |
| Fundic varices |
| Peptic ulcer |
| Angiectasia |
| Dieulafoy lesion |
| Gastric antral vascular ectasia |
| Colorectal lesions |
| Angiectasia |
| Polyps |
| Neoplasms |
| Anal disease |
| Dieulafoy lesion |
| Mid-GI tract lesions |
| < 40 yr |
| Meckel diverticulum |
| Dieulafoy lesion |
| Tumors (GIST, Lymphoma, Carcinoids, etc.) |
| Inflammatory bowel disease |
| Celiac disease |
| 40-60 yr |
| Small bowel tumors |
| Angiodysplasia |
| Celiac disease |
| NSAID’s related lesions |
| > 60 yr |
| Angiodysplasia |
| Small bowel tumors |
| NSAID’s related lesions |
| Rare causes (< 1%) |
| Haemobilia |
| Aortoenteric fistula |
| Hemosuccus pancreaticus |
GI: Gastrointestinal; NSAID: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.