[Familial colonic varices: report of two cases]

Idiopathic or familial colonic varices are an infrequent cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. It seems that congenital vascular abnormalities are involved in its etiopathogenesis. We present two cases in the same family. The disease first presented as intermittent episodes of rectorrhagia. In one case varices of the small intestine were detected by radiology. Both cases were given conservative treatment and we believe that surgery should be limited to selected cases and always after a careful observation period.