[Forms of cavernous hemangiomas of the intestine].

Cavernous hemangiomas of the gastrointestinal tract are considered to be vascular hamartomas from the point of view of pathogenesis. They occur as diffusely infiltrating tumors or as polypous circumscript tumors. Two case reports are given, and histopathology, pathogenesis and clinical symptoms of this disease are discussed. One patient had a diffusely infiltrating cavernous hemangioma of the rectum which presented as a circumrectal hemangioma of usual size and form; the angioarchitecture of this tumor could be analyzed. It may be speculated that the extensive vascularisation of the intestinal wall would have enhanced proliferation of extrarectal adipose tissue by way of improving metabolic conditions. This case as well as the other case reported would fit into the hypothesis that this type of tumor is pathogenetically a vascular hamartoma also taking into account the angiolipomatous component.