Gastrointestinal angiodysplasias or angioectasias are one of the most common causes of occult gastrointestinal bleeding. Epidemiology Peak incidence occurs ...×ArticlesLogInCasesSignUpCoursesQuizBlogDonateAbout×MenuSearchADVERTISEMENT:Radiopaediaisfreethankstooursupportersandadvertisers.BecomeaGoldSupporterandseenoads.ArticlesCasesCoursesLogInLoginSignup{"url":"/signup-modal-props.json?lang=us\u0026email="}ArticlesCasesCoursesQuizAboutBlogGoad-freeSearchGastrointestinalangiodysplasiaDrRohitSharma◉andDrHenryKnipe◉◈etal.Gastrointestinalangiodysplasiasorangioectasias areoneofthemostcommoncausesofoccultgastrointestinalbleeding.Onthispage:Article:EpidemiologyClinicalpresentationPathologyRadiographicfeaturesTreatmentandprognosisReferencesImages:CasesandfiguresEpidemiologyPeakincidenceoccursinpatientsintheir60-70s3.ClinicalpresentationPatientscanpresentwithsymptomsandsignsupperorlowergastrointestinalbleeding althoughtheycancommonlybeanincidentalfinding. PathologyAngiodysplasiareferstodilated,thin-walledbloodvessels(capillaries,venules,veins) foundinthemucosaandsubmucosaofthegastrointestinaltract.Thepathogenesisisunclear3. Theyaremultiplein~50%ofcases1,2,andcanbefoundthroughoutthegastrointestinaltract,butmostcommonlyinthececumandrightcolonontheantimesentericborder. AssociationsHeydesyndrome:bleedingangiodysplasiaandaorticstenosis(controversial1)chronicrenalfailurevonWillebranddiseaseRadiographicfeaturesCTappearasfocalareas(<5mm)ofcontrastenhancementinthebowelwall(mostprominentintheentericphase3)earlyfillingofanantimesentericvein4Angiographyectaticvesselsbutnomass6earlyvenousenhancementindicatingarteriovenousshuntingTreatmentandprognosisApproximately50%ofgastrointestinalhemorrhagefromangiodysplasiaceaseswithoutintervention.Endovasculartreatmentisgenerallynoteffectiveandfirst-linetreatmentisinterventionalendoscopy. Thereisapost-treatmentbleedingrateof~25%2,4.References1.GunjanD,SharmaV,RanaSSet-al.Smallbowelbleeding:acomprehensivereview.GastroenterolRep(Oxf).2014;2(4):262-75.