Diaphragm disease of the small bowel--a case report and literature review.

A 75-year-old man who had an emergency laparotomy for small bowel obstruction was found at operation to have multiple mid-ileal strictures. Histology of the resected specimen confirmed diaphragm disease of the bowel. The pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear but it is associated with long-term use of NSAID. Diagnosis is often difficult as many clinicians are unaware of this condition. The relevant literature has been reviewed. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel