The Dieulafoy gastric malformation: an under-recognized cause of massive upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage

The Dieulafoy gastric malformation is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. When no obvious bleeding lesion is seen at laparotomy this diagnosis ought to be considered. Three such cases were identified and treated with simple underrunning of the lesion with no mortality and minimal morbidity. Follow-up endoscopy in each patient showed complete healing of the lesion.