Diffuse telangiectasia of the colon: A case report

RATIONALE: Colonic telangiectasia, also known as colonic angiodysplasia, refers to arteriovenous malformations that occur in the colon, which are common vascular lesions in the GI tract. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a patient, who was admitted to our hospital for colonoscopy. DIAGNOSES: Under a microscope, all the segments of the whole colon and the varicose veins showed multiple flaky spider-like telangiectasia changes. The blood vessels were radially distributed and converged in the center. The largest blood vessel was about 10 mm in diameter and had a smooth surface with no ulcers, erosion, or bleeding. INTERVENTIONS: It was recommended that the patient undergo a capsule endoscopy to examine small intestine. OUTCOMES: The patient did not agree to endoscopy for personal reasons. During the follow-up half a year later, the patient had no melena with normal range of hemoglobin and red blood cell counts. The fecal occult blood test came out negative. LESSONS: While the etiology of colonic telangiectasia remains unclear, it is common in the elderly, and is more associated with geriatric conditions and diseases, especially atherosclerotic diseases. Patients who are diagnosed with colonic telangiectasia but are asymptomatic, do not need further treatment. It is usually recommended to monitor the color of stool and check the hemoglobin and fecal occult blood regularly. Colonoscopy is the main method of diagnosis of colonic telangiectasia, and the positive rate is greater than 90%. This procedure should be performed when there is no bleeding or a small amount of bleeding.