Colon angioectasias, also called angiodysplasias, are small, fragile blood vessels in the wall of the colon that can bleed. They are often found on the right side of the colon during a colonoscopy and may be classified under ICD-10 code K31.6.
These abnormal vessels may not cause signs right away. When bleeding occurs, you may notice:
Several factors can contribute to the development of colon angioectasias:
Don't let angioectasias affect your health and wellbeing. Schedule your consultation with the expert team at GastroDoxs in Cypress today for personalized diagnostics and treatment. Book online now or call us to get started on your path to better digestive health.
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Angioectasias are small, fragile blood vessels in the digestive tract (often in the stomach, colon, or small intestine) that can stretch and slowly leak blood over time.
For angioectasia in the stomach antrum, the code is K31.819. For other parts of the stomach, use K31.89. If there's active GI bleeding, K92.2 may also be applied.
Yes. Chronic, slow bleeding from angioectasias can deplete iron stores and lead to iron-deficiency anemia, resulting in fatigue, weakness, or shortness of breath.
No. Dieulafoy lesions involve a single, abnormally large artery that can cause sudden, severe bleeding. Angioectasias are multiple tiny vessels that bleed more slowly.
They're detected through endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopy or upper endoscopy. Capsule endoscopy and imaging (CT or MRI) can help locate lesions deeper in the small intestine.
Yes. Most cases are managed with outpatient endoscopic therapies like argon plasma coagulation (APC), injection therapy, laser or heat treatments, and iron supplementation if needed.
They can recur, especially in older patients or those with ongoing risk factors. Regular follow-up endoscopies help detect and treat new lesions early.
While often benign, untreated angioectasias can cause significant blood loss and severe anemia. Prompt diagnosis and treatment minimize risks.
Yes, although it's rare. Angioectasias can appear anywhere along the GI tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or colon.
Schedule an evaluation if you notice black or red blood in your stool, unexplained fatigue, dizziness, or if blood tests reveal low iron or anemia.
