angioectasia

Term: angioectasia (or angiodysplasia)

Literally meaning: extention of vessels

Origin: Anc Greek

αγγείον/angion(=ancient vase)

+ έκτασις/ectasis (=an extension, or distension) > εκ/ec(=from) + τείνω/teino(=extend)

Coined/History

Phillips first described a vascular abnormality that caused bleeding from the large bowel in a letter to the London Medical Gazette in 1839 but the ternm was coined by  finally in 1974 by Galdabini JJ.  

Source

Galdabini JJ, Waitman AC, Norellio PA, Greenfield AJ, Ezreleta M. Angiodysplasia of the colon: a cause of rectal bleeding. J Cardiovasc Radiol 1978;1:3-13.

Definition

Angioectasia is a small vascular malformation beneath the lining of the large intestine. This condition may be asymptomatic, or it may cause gastrointestinal bleeding or chronic anemia. Treatment for angiodysplasia may include laser cautery that is performed during colonscopy.