[Angiodysplasia of the colon: diagnosis and therapy]

Angiodysplasias of the colon are rare causes of intestinal bleeding. Diagnosis is by angiography or colonoscopy. In 6 patients with severe anemia in whom conventional methods had failed to reveal the source of bleeding, colonoscopy demonstrated angiodysplasias in the cecum or ascending colon. They were treated endoscopically. In a follow-up period of 3 months to 4 years only 1 patient has sometimes suffered occult fecal blood loss, but is adequately treated by oral iron therapy. No patient has had a severe recurrence of bleeding, nor was colonic resection necessary. It is concluded that endoscopic therapy of angiodysplasias is a valuable alternative to surgery with low risk and high efficiency.