Endoscopic diagnosis and therapy of mucosal vascular abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract occurring in elderly patients and associated with cardiac, vascular, and pulmonary disease.

Twenty-seven cases of mucosal vascular abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract were demonstrated by endoscopy, usually during investigation for gastrointestinal bleeding. The lesions were flat, bright red, and seen clearly through the endoscope. All were successfully treated by endoscopic electrocoagulation without complication. The vascular abnormalities were situated in the colons of 24 patients and in the stomachs of 3 patients. The average age of the patients was 69 years. Twenty-two of the 27 patients had some type of associated cardiac, vascular, or pulmonary disease that apparently represents a syndrome. The author proposes a theory that the vascular lesions are acquired as a consequence of hypo-oxygenation of the colon mucosa.