Abstract

Meckel's diverticulum, which is a persistence of a remnant of the omphalomesenteric duct, is the most common developmental anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract, with an incidence of about 2% in the general population. Typically, Meckel's diverticulum is a true diverticulum because it arises from the antimesenteric border of the small bowel and all layers of the intestinal wall are present. Complications of Meckel's diverticulum include bleeding, perforation, diverticulitis, intestinal obstruction, stones, intussusception, hernia, and neoplasm. Bleeding in particular is a common complication and has always been caused by an ulceration of the ileal mucosa adjacent to the acid-producing ectopic gastric mucosa in a Meckel's diverticulum. A case was recently experienced involving massive hematochezia from Meckel's diverticulum without ectopic gastric mucosa in a 27 year-old woman, and in herein reported. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2000;20:132-136)

• Keywords: Meckel's diverticulum, Ectopic mucosa, Hematochezia.