Giant cell phlebitis as a cause of large intestinal stricture.

Although arteritis of the gastrointestinal tract is well known, an isolated phlebitis without associated arteritis of the colon and cecum is rare. We describe a distinct form of giant cell phlebitis in a 16-year-old girl causing ischemic stricture of the large intestine. She presented with subacute intestinal obstruction and was suspected of suffering from tuberculosis. However, histopathologic examination showed giant cell phlebitis, the arterioles and arteries being spared. Although this is an extremely rare form of nonprogressive vasculitis, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of strictures in the large intestine, especially in the young.