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Angiodysplasia of the colon

Last reviewed: 6 Oct 2024
Last updated: 12 Jan 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • gastrointestinal bleeding
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • age >60 years
  • shortness of breath
  • fatigue
  • weakness
  • pallor
  • tachycardia
  • hypotension
Full details

Risk factors

  • end-stage renal disease
  • von Willebrand disease
  • aortic stenosis
  • scleroderma
  • cardiovascular disease
  • increasing age
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • CBC
  • blood type and crossmatch
  • blood chemistry
  • esophagogastroduodenoscopy
  • colonoscopy
  • fecal occult blood
Full details

Tests to consider

  • CT angiography (CTA)
  • selective mesenteric angiography
  • technetium Tc-99m radionuclide scan
  • wireless capsule enteroscopy
  • push enteroscopy
Full details

Emerging tests

  • magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

hemodynamically unstable (severe hemorrhage)

hemodynamically stable

ONGOING

recurrent bleed

Contributors

Authors

Aidan Shaw, MRCS, FRCR (IR)

Consultant Interventional Radiologist

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Kent

UK

Disclosures

AS declares that he has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Aidan Shaw would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Heather Lee and Dr William Speake, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

HL declares that she has no competing interests. WS declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Alessandro Fichera, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Assistant Professor

Department of Surgery

University of Chicago

Chicago

IL

Disclosures

AF declares that he has no competing interests.

David J. Hackam, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Pediatric Surgery

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Pittsburgh

PA

Disclosures

DJH declares that he has no competing interests.

  • Angiodysplasia of the colon images
  • Differentials

    • Diverticular disease
    • Colorectal cancer
    • Gastrointestinal stromal tumors and leiomyomas
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Management of patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding
    • American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guideline on informed consent for GI endoscopic procedures
    More Guidelines
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