Complete resolution of large vessel vasculitis associated with colorectal cancer following resection of tumour.

Abstract

A patient in his late seventies presented with dizziness, loss of appetite, weight loss and iron deficiency anaemia. Computed tomography of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis found a descending colon adenocarcinoma. Further assessment with whole body fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography incidentally identified extensive large vessel arteritis. The patient opted for no immunosuppressive or steroid treatments for his vasculitis to minimise risk associated with planned left hemicolectomy and en bloc resection of the small bowel. Following surgical resection of the tumour, the large vessel vasculitis was seen to resolve with improvement of inflammatory markers and minimal vessel wall fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on subsequent postoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography.