CAVERNOUS HEMANGIOMA OF THE RECTUM - AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF RECTAL BLEEDING

We report the case of a 34-year-old woman with severe rectal bleeding since the age of 17. The cause of the bleeding was a cavernous haemang ioma of the rectum. The extent of the disease was not realised for man y years. Sclerosing injections, laser coagulation and even suture liga tion were helpful in acute bleeding episodes but did not result in def initive healing, Finally cure was achieved by resection of the rectum and cole-anal sleeve anastomosis. The clinical presentation and the ma nagement are described and discussed.