[Angiodysplasia - a cause of gastrointestinal bleeding]

Angiodysplasia is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. The lesion has a specific appearance - markedly enlarged closely grouped veins with short channels between veins and arteries. The lesion may occur on any part of the gastrointestinal tract, but it is most often located in cecum. Its clinical manifestations are predominantly seen in patients beyond the age of 55 years. Selective angiography is the most certain way of diagnosing angiodysplasia. It can be diagnosed by endoscopy too. Resection of the inflicted part is the most successful treatment. Sometimes endoscopic coagulation or embolisation lisation have good results too. Three patients with angiodysplasia - a 74-year man, a 65-year woman with angiodysplasia on cecum and a 63-year woman with angiodysplasia on jejunum are shown. The diagnostic and therapeutic problems of this rare illness are discussed.