Angiodysplasia refers to small, abnormally formed blood vessels, typically in the lining of the colon or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. These fragile vessels can bleed, sometimes causing significant blood loss, especially in older adults. While angiodysplasia is most commonly diagnosed through colonoscopy or angiography rather than ultrasound, sonographers should be aware of this condition because patients may present with signs of gastrointestinal bleeding during abdominal ultrasound examinations. Doppler ultrasound can sometimes detect increased blood flow in the bowel wall that suggests the presence of vascular malformations.
Sonography Term