Mesenteric phlebosclerosis.

mesenteric ischemia, and is characterized by thickening of the colonic wall with calcification of the affected veins. Phlebosclerosis as a disease entity has been recently proposed by Iwashita et al [1]. Fewer than 100 cases have been reported to date, andmost are from Japan.We present a case of chronic ischemic colonic lesions caused by phlebosclerosis. A 58-year-oldwomanwas admitted to our hospital for colonoscopy. At the first colonoscopy, the mucosal surface from the ileocecal junction to the transverse colon was seen to be dark purple in color (●" Fig. 1). Since then, the patient has been under regular colonoscopic follow-up (about one or two times a year). At 6 years after the first presentation, we notedmultiple mucosal ulcerations extending from the ascending to the transverse colon (●" Fig. 2), and at 8 years after the first presentation, the colonoscopic findings included scars and ulcers (●" Fig. 3). Barium enema showed wall thickening, disappearance of the haustra, and an extension defect in the ascending and transverse colon●" (Fig. 4). Abdominal computed tomography showed patchy and linear calcifications in and around the colonic wall (●" Fig. 5). The histopathologic findings were compatible with ischemic colitis. The pathogenesis of phlebosclerosis remains unclear. More case reports and further research are needed to clarify the etiology of phlebosclerosis. Competing interests: None