Last reviewed: 21 Apr 2022
Last updated: 17 Dec 2019
Summary
Differentials
Common
- Diverticular disease
- Colonic angiodysplasia
- Ischaemic colitis
- Crohn's disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Infectious colitis
- Colorectal cancer
- Internal haemorrhoids
- Anal fissure
- Colonic polyps
Full details
Uncommon
- Meckel's diverticulum
- Radiation-induced telangiectasia
- Dieulafoy's lesion
- Aorto-enteric fistula
- Vasculitis
- Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia
- Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome
- Anal cancer
- Rectal ulcer
- Rectal varices
- Post-polypectomy bleeding
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) colopathy
- Upper GI bleeding (rapid transport)
- Prostate biopsy site bleeding
- Endometriosis
Full details
Contributors
Authors
Praveen Roy, MD
Chief of Gastroenterology
Presbyterian Hospital
Clinical Assistant, Professor of Medicine
University of New Mexico
NM
Disclosures
PR declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Ian Jenkins, MB BS
Specialist Registrar
Division of Surgery
North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust
Glasgow
UK
Disclosures
IJ declares that he has no competing interests.
Guidelines
- Diagnosis and management of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding
- Diverticular disease: assessment and management
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