Melanosis ilei secondary to chronic iron supplementation

Authors

• Tya Youssef Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Beirut, Lebanon 0009-0005-3535-5818
• Karim Zodeh Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, University of Balamand, Beirut, Lebanon 0009-0003-4670-7626
• Nawaf Jurdi Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
• Mahmoud Othman Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, University of Balamand, Beirut, Lebanon 0000-0003-0303-5455

karim.zodeh@std.balamand.edu.lb

Keywords

Abstract

Melanosis ilei is an uncommon, benign condition characterized by dark pigmentation of the terminal ileal mucosa. Usually asymptomatic, it is frequently found incidentally during endoscopic examination. We report a 42-year-old female with iron deficiency anaemia receiving oral iron treatment who had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy as part of anaemia workup. The results of the colonoscopy and gastroscopy were uneventful, but deep intubation of the terminal ileum showed many distinct to confluent dark brown pigmented areas that seemed peppered and speckled. Melanosis ilei was confirmed by the histopathology of ileal samples, which showed pigment-laden macrophages in the lamina propria. This etiology was attributed to long-term iron supplementation. Recognition of the characteristic endoscopic and histopathologic features of melanosis ilei is important to prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions.

References