IDIOPATHIC COLONIC VARICES - AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF MASSIVE LOWER GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE

We report a patient with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding, prob ably from extensive colonic varices. Despite lengthy investigation, th e etiology of the colonic varices was not determined, There are numero us reports in the literature of bleeding from colonic varices attribut ed to portal hypertension from cirrhosis or venous obstruction. Howeve r, bleeding from colonic varices located in the entire colon without d emonstrable cause have only rarely been reported.