Gastric antral vascular ectasia (watermelon stomach)

With the invention of fiberoptic endoscopy and now video endoscopy, evaluation of gastrointestinal bleeding has dramatically changed the understanding and treatment of vascular malformations. Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia is one such rare entity that is known to cause acute or chronic blood loss. The term "watermelon stomach" represents the endoscopic appearance of bright red longitudinal stripes localized in the gastric antrum, thus, resembling the skin of a ripened watermelon. Definitive treatment of watermelon stomach is antrectomy. However, endoscopic modalities offer an effective, relatively safe, and clearly less invasive treatment option for patients who experience acute, recurrent or chronic gastrointestinal bleeding from these lesions. In this article, the author describes the characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of this uncommon disorder.