Giant Meckel’s Diverticulum Presenting as Chronic Iron-Deficiency Anemia in a Young Adult: A Rare Clinical Entity

Meckel’s diverticulum is the most prevalent congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract, yet it often remains asymptomatic and undiagnosed. Giant Meckel’s diverticulum, defined as a diverticulum exceeding 5 cm in length, is extremely rare and can present with complications, including bleeding, obstruction, and inflammation. We report a case of a 21-year-old female who presented with chronic iron deficiency anemia, generalized weakness, and intermittent passage of blackish stools for several months. Despite upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies showing no significant pathology, a contrast-enhanced MDCT scan of the abdomen revealed a 10 cm long blind-ending tubular structure arising from the distal ileum, consistent with a giant Meckel’s diverticulum. The diverticulum contained food particles and an air-fluid level, suggesting chronic stasis. Multiple enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes were also noted. The patient was managed conservatively and advised of elective surgical resection. This case emphasizes the need to consider Meckel’s diverticulum in the differential diagnosis of unexplained chronic anemia in young adults, especially when standard endoscopic evaluations are inconclusive. Cross-sectional imaging plays a crucial role in establishing the diagnosis.