A Rare Case of Massive Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Caused by an Ileal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Although gastrointestinal bleeding is a common complication of GISTs, life-threatening hemorrhage is rare, particularly with intestinal GISTs. We report a rare case of an ileal GIST in a 71-year-old female patient who presented with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Initial CT angiography (CTA) demonstrated a brisk gastrointestinal bleed in the ileal region. Despite embolization of the associated distal ileal artery branches, the patient experienced persistent hemoglobin drops and hematochezia. Repeat CTA revealed a hyper-enhancing exophytic lesion in the proximal ileum. This 4.7cm ileal tumor had to be excised, and histopathology confirmed a low-grade GIST. This case highlights the diagnostic complexity of ileal GISTs and the importance of imaging modalities such as CTA in managing active gastrointestinal bleeding.