A comparison of colonoscopy and selective visceral angiography in the diagnosis of colonic angiodysplasia.

The results of selective visceral angiography and colonoscopy were compared in the diagnosis of angiodysplasia of the large bowel. Fifty six patients were diagnosed as having angiodysplasia on angiography and 34 of these patients also underwent colonoscopy. Twenty three of the colonoscopies were positive giving a diagnostic yield of 68%. Three colonoscopies were negative and eight were incomplete. Colonoscopy was useful in the diagnosis of concomitant disease and also provided the clinician with the therapeutic possibility of electrocoagulation. Colonoscopy at operation proved to be a valuable technique in assessing the extent of angiodysplasia prior to resection.