Phlebectasias,
GI literature
•Venous ectasias, also
called phlebectasias, differ from angiodysplasias
and varices pathologically and clinically.
•These lesions consist
of dilated submucosal veins usually with
thin overlying mucosa. These venous varicosities have a normal endothelial lining, are nonneoplastic, and are
not associated with liver
disease.
•Endoscopically, they
appear as multiple, bluish red nodules and occur predominantly in the rectum and the
esophagus.
•Small bowel lesions
have been described.
•They are an uncommon
cause of bleeding and are usually asymptomatic.
Lewis BS - Gastroenterol Clin North Am - 01-Mar-2000; 29(1): 67-95