The caliber persistent artery of the stomach: a unifying approach to gastric aneurysm, Dieulafoy's lesion, and submucosal arterial malformation.

The caliber persistent artery of the stomach is the most dangerous form of gastrorrhagias; the overall lethality rate is 60.5%. A literature review aimed at completeness, a study of the hitherto largest case material (24 cases), and a comparative analysis of the bleeding and normal gastric arteries gave the following results: (1) the walls of the pathologic arteries are of normal structure; (2) as submucous arteries, they are of normal diameter; (3) they are attached to the mucosa by virtue of Wanke's musculoelastic mantle; (4) at the level of the muscularis mucosae, they are definitely oversized; (5) in the area of the linkage of the artery to the mucosa, a vulnerable mucosal spot is created; (6) the artery is accompanied by a vein of similar caliber; and (7) perforation of the vein takes place before that of the artery. In addition to surgical pathology and pathogenesis, the pitfalls of its diagnosis and treatment are also discussed. Caliber persistent artery of the stomach is much more common than the literature indicates, necessitating an increased awareness of the condition.