Recurrent rectal bleeding in a teenager caused by a cavernous haemangioma of the sigmoid colon

An 18-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for investigation of repeated episodes of rectal bleeding. Over the preceding 5 months the patient had made 4 visits to our emergency room reporting bleeding from the rectum. The problem was not associated with any other symptoms and was self-limiting. Previously, fresh red blood had been found on digital rectal examination, with no other abnormalities; no haemorrhoids, fistulous tracts, or abscesses had been found, and the patient had normal tone of her anal sphincter.