• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Angiodysplasia of the colon

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

Angiodysplasia of the colon is a condition of stretched and fragile blood vessels in the colon that results in occasional loss of blood from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The condition is mostly related to the aging and degeneration of the blood vessels, and occurs in older adults.

Angiodysplasia of the colon is not related to cancer. It is very rarely related to other diseases of the blood vessels, including Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. It is different than diverticulosis, another very common cause of bleeding in older adults.

Alternative Names:

Vascular ectasia of the colon; Colonic arteriovenous malformation; Colonic angiomas

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

There are several theories about the cause of angiodysplasia of the colon. The most likely is that normal contractions of the colon result in dilation (stretching) of colonic veins, venules, and capillaries. The dilation becomes so severe that a small direct passageway develops between the artery and vein (arteriovenous fistula). It is in this area of the colon wall that the patient is at risk for bleeding.

Angiodysplasia of the colon has been seen in about 3% of "nonbleeding persons" and in about 5% of patients evaluated for blood in the stool, anemia, or hemorrhage. Men and women are equally at risk for developing angiodysplasia of the colon. Most patients are older than 50 years.

• Review Date: 5/3/2007
• Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.