title: Idiopathic colonic varices: case report and review of literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colonic varices represent a very rare entity, either an incidental finding at colonoscopy or discovered due to its complication, the lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The most common cause of colonic varices is portal hypertension associated with liver disease or secondary to pancreatic conditions, like chronic pancreatitis or malignancies. The incidence of colonic varices is very low, even in liver cirrhosis where the patients frequently develop varices in the upper gastrointestinal tract, but surprisingly uncommon present with varices localized in the colon.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of idiopathic colonic varices, diagnosed at a routine colonoscopy performed for nespecific abdominal disturbances in a female patient without liver disease or pancreatic conditions responsible for portal hypertension development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of colonic varices in the absence of a certain trigger represents a major issue for practitioners due to its major complication, lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, St. John Emergency Hospital, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Ion
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dina
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Emergency University Hospital Bucharest, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Carmen Fierbinteanu
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Braticevici
keywords: Colonic Varices; Colonoscopy; Portal Hypertension