Reports of spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery are rare. Diagnosis in the acute stage has been considered difficult, but we encountered four cases from November 1998 to November 2001. All four cases were diagnosed using abdominal CT scanning in the acute stage and could be treated conservatively. All patients were provided anticoagulation therapy upon fasting. The mean period of continuous abdominal pain was 10.2 days, the mean period of fasting was 27.2 days, and the mean number of in-hospital days was 44.

Endoscopic resection with aspiration lumpectomy is a useful and safe method for resection of small carcinoid tumors of the rectum.

No abstract