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Angiodysplasia of the Colon(Colonic Angiodysplasia, Arteriovenous Malformations [AVM] of the Colon)
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionAngiodysplasia of the colon is when blood vessels in the colon (large intestine) enlarge. They may become weak and result in bleeding in the digestive system.
CausesThe exact cause is not known. It may be part of the aging process. Risk FactorsThis problem is more common in older adults. Other things that may raise the risk are:
SymptomsProblems may be:
DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. Blood and stool may be tested. The internal structures of the body may need to be viewed. This can be done with:
TreatmentTreatment may not be needed. The problem often goes away on its own. People who do need treatment may have:
PreventionThere are no current guidelines to prevent this problem. RESOURCES:American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging http://www.healthinaging.org National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases http://www.niddk.nih.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES:Canadian Association of Gastroenterology https://www.cag-acg.org Canadian Digestive Health Foundation http://www.cdhf.ca References:
Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/gastrointestinal-angiodysplasia.
Accessed October 22, 2020.
Jackson CS, Gerson LB. Management of gastrointestinal angiodysplastic lesions (GIADs): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2014 Apr;109(4):474-483. Last reviewed September 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD Last Updated: 5/14/2021 | |