Should watermelon stomach be considered to be an unrecognized localization of scleroderma?
Marie, I.; Cailleux, N.; Hochain, P.; François, A.; Metayer, J.; Levesque, H.; Courtois, H.
Journal des Maladies Vasculaires 21(3): 188-191
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0398-0499 PMID: 8965050 Document Number: 455901
We reported a typical case of watermelon stomach which occurred during the course of a limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis. Watermelon stomach is an important source of upper gastrointestinal bleeding which requires endoscopic treatment. Such an association has already been described and we suggest that watermelon stomach could be an unrecognized localization of scleroderma stomach involvement. Because gut involvement may precede skin manifestations. A search of progressive systemic sclerosis should be done with clinical examination, antinuclear antibodies research (especially anticentromere antibodies) and nailfold capillaroscopy when a such endoscopic appearance is noted.