Neurofibromatosis type 1 presenting as bleeding jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumour

Introduction: Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are an important, though uncommon, cause of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and may rarely be associated with genodermatoses such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). NF1-related GISTs have unique phenotypic features compared with sporadic GISTs...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Liang, Raymond Fueng-Hin, Chau, Cora Yuk-Ping, Lim, Wee Chian
Other Authors: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/179736
Description
Summary:Introduction: Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are an important, though uncommon, cause of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and may rarely be associated with genodermatoses such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). NF1-related GISTs have unique phenotypic features compared with sporadic GISTs and may elude diagnosis due to their predilection for the small bowel. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 45-year-old Singaporean woman with café-au-lait macules and cutaneous neurofibromas who presented with occult obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and was eventually discovered to have a bleeding jejunal GIST. This finding, considered together with her cutaneous signs, eventually led to the diagnosis of NF1. Conclusion: Genodermatoses and their gastrointestinal complications are likely under-reported in adult Southeast Asian populations and deserve greater awareness from gastroenterologists practising in this region.