What is angiodysplasia of duodenum?
Angiodysplasia (AD) is an abnormal, ectatic dilated, tortuous blood vessel that is found in the mucosa and the submucosa of the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT). While colonic angiodysplasia is a recognized finding of the lower intestinal tract in the elderly, small intestinal angiodysplasia is rare.
Is angiodysplasia serious?
If left untreated, angiodysplasia can cause severe blood loss. And in cases of extreme anemia, you may need a blood transfusion.
Is angiodysplasia cancerous?
Rarely, angiodysplasia of the colon is related to other diseases of the blood vessels. One of these is Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. The condition is not related to cancer. It is also different than diverticulosis, which is a more common cause of intestinal bleeding in older adults.
How do you treat angiodysplasia?
Surgical resection is the definitive treatment for angiodysplasia. Partial or complete gastrectomy for the management of gastric angiodysplasia has been reported to be followed by bleeding in as many as 50% of patients. Rebleeding was attributed to other angiodysplastic lesions.
How common is angiodysplasia?
Foutch et al noted the prevalence of angiodysplasia to be 0.83% from 3 prospective studies in which screening colonoscopies were performed in 964 asymptomatic individuals (mean age, 62 y). Angiodysplasia is the most common reason (50%) for occult GI bleeding.
What is angiodysplasia associated with?
Angiodysplasia has been reported to be associated with aortic stenosis. Heyde first reported this association in 1958, describing Heyde syndrome as the combination of calcific aortic stenosis and GI bleeding due to angiodysplasia of the colon.
Is angiodysplasia seen on colonoscopy?
Angiodysplasia is usually diagnosed as an incidental finding during colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening exams or when evaluating the patient for acute or chronic blood loss related anemia. The initial diagnostic modality depends on the characteristics of bleeding and suspicion for the location of the source.
Can angiodysplasia cause bleeding?
Angiodysplasia can lead to intermittent bleeding, manifest as iron deficiency anemia or low blood counts, and sometimes as visible bleeding from the GI tract. These mainly occur in older patients and people with certain conditions.
Is gastrointestinal bleeding serious?
GI bleeding is a serious symptom that requires prompt medical treatment. From tears in the organs in the digestive tract to inflammatory conditions, these causes often require examination by a doctor to diagnose and treat. Left untreated, they may result in serious complications, including heart attack and shock.