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Most studies of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) have focused on peptic ulcers. Tumors are responsible for 1% to 5% of UGIB episodes and present particular treatment challenges. To provide more information on such cases, investigators retrospectively reviewed the records of consecutive patients hospitalized with UGIB at a large urban U.S. hospital between January 2005 and January 2012.
Tumors were the cause of bleeding in 106 (5%) of the 2166 patients; most were located in the stomach. Among the patients with tumors, 73% received transfusions during the index hospitalization. At endoscopy, active bleeding was seen in 30% — oozing in 29%, and spurting in 1%. Discrete ulcers were present in 56%, with adherent clots in 6% and visible vess…