Symptoms:

The symptoms vary. Often, in elderly patients, the symptoms are anemia, weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. There may not be any signs of bleeding directly from the colon. Others may have occasional mild or severe bleeding episodes with bright red blood coming from the rectum.

Some patients may have dark or black, tarry stools. There is no pain associated with angiodysplasia.

Signs and tests:

Tests that may be done to diagnose this condition include:

• Angiography (only useful if there is active bleeding into the colon)
• CBC
• Colonoscopy
• Stool guaiac (a positive test result suggests bleeding from the colon)