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Colonic angiodysplasia

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Colonic angiodysplasia is a common cause of acute or chronic rectal bleeding and iron deficiency anaemia.

Angiodysplasias are tiny - 1-5 mm in diameter - hamartomatous capillary lesions in the colonic wall which produce bleeding out of proportion to their size. They are believed to be acquired, possibly as a result of tension on the veins where they pass through the muscularis.

Diagnosis:

  • subtraction mesenteric arteriography may demonstrate bleeding if rapid
  • colonscopy: may visualise lesion

Treatment:

  • electrical coagulation via the colonoscope
  • resection of segment of colon if the above is unsuccessful

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