Dieulafoy's disease--a distinct clinical entity.

Dieulafoy's disease is a condition characterized by massive gastric haemorrhage from an abnormal submucosal artery in the upper third of the stomach. The site of rupture is marked by a small mucosal erosion over the point of rupture. Identification of the lesion is made by endoscopy, angiography or operation. However, the diagnosis is not always easy, especially as the bleeding is intermittent. Once diagnosed, treatment by operation is simple. The disease is possibly not rare, but rarely recognized.