ANGIODYSPLASIA OF THE SMALL INTESTINE AND COLON: A REPORT OF THREE CASES.

INTRODUCTION: Angiodysplasia is a rare lesion (0.82% prevalence) characterised by enlarged, abnormally dilated blood vessels in the mucous or submucous sheath of the gastrointestinal tract. This condition clinically manifests with acute or chronic bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. Typically the diagnosis is based on endoscopic findings and histological characteristics of the distorted vascular structures. Angiodysplasia is quite a common finding in elderly patients. However, the reasons for the anomaly observed with advancing age are yet to be revealed. CASE REPORT: The aim of this report is to highlight three cases of intestinal angiodysplasia histologically confirmed in patients at 47, 60 and 66 years of age. Histological examination using light microscopy revealed different in size and shape dilated, filled with blood vessels surrounded by oedematous, inflamed stroma in the mucosal and submucosal layer of the intestine. CONCLUSION: Angiodysplasia is considered to be the second most common cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. This makes an adequate histologically confirmed diagnosis of this anomaly crucial for a patient`s quality of life.